June 18, 2017

Hey Family!  

This week is kind of hectic because it's transfers time yet again.  Man!  They keep going by so fast!  I can't believe I've been out for so long!  Well the news is that I am staying in the blessed land of Romford!  I seriously love it so much here!  We are being so blessed and the work is hastening here.  Both in our area and in the district!  Romford is just booming with miracles and tender mercies!  I look forward to this coming transfer to do even better than last!!  Some more exciting news is that I don't know who my next companion is... which means that I am training a brand new missionary.  I am so excited and humbled by this opportunity!  I will meet whomever I'm serving with tomorrow at the trainers meeting!  Ah!  So exciting!  

It is so great to hear that you are all doing so well!  Maddie!  Congratulations on your golf awards!  What the heck?  That is so cool!  You look so happy!  Love you Maddie!

JD!  You are doing X Country?  That is so sick!  Man, I wish I would've done it looking back on my High School experience, you are going to do so great!  Love ya JD!

Sydney!  Sounds like you are becoming a piano master!  I can't wait to hear you play your awesome songs for me Love ya Sydney!

Sounds like things are going well and there's lots of family time being spent which is awesome!  

It sounds like you are doing amazing things Mom!  Enjoy the time you have to spend with the kids! Love ya Mom!

Is it hot over there??  Because it is BLISTERING hot over here!  It is a very humid kind of heat and I pretty much sweat from the time I get out of the shower to the time I go to bed.  It's one of the hottest June's that England has had in a while.  It was 34 degrees (Celsius) which is pretty toasty.  

I am departing my little Brazilian companion.  It has been lots of ups and downs with him, but I love him and I'm sad to see him go.

On Friday we got to hear from President Stevens, Elder Kearon, Elder D. Todd, Christofferson, and their wives and it was the coolest experience ever.  All 200 missionaries in the ELM were there and it was amazing to see all of the amazing missionaries that have helped me in so many ways.  Then to hear the testimony of a special witness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... it was amazing.  I learned how the spirit is pure intelligence and can teach us things even our 5 senses can't.  It was amazing.  I am going to apply what I learned and be the best missionary I can be.  I am going to help people come to know that the Book of Mormon is true.  That is the key.  It really is so simple.  Elder Christofferson explained that it really is as simple as that.  If they are willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, they will gain a witness that it is true and become converted to the Gospel, and if not, they won't progress.  Simple.  I also want to apply something I learned from Elder Kearon which is to "let go of all your inadequacies, and instead look at how you can help those around you and be a light to them."  That's what I'm going to apply what I learned and now you (my beloved family) can keep me accountable!  

Now for an epic shout out!  Happy Fathers Day Dad!!  I love you so much!  You are so great.  Thank you for being an amazing father and an incredible example of hard work, magnifying your church callings, and leading by example.  I will ever be grateful for you!  The talk I gave went really well.  Lots of people came up and told me they loved it.  I told the story of your epic rescue when Kyle and I were freezing to death in a swamped canoe, and then related that to the context of our Heavenly Father.  It was fun to write and remember all those awesome memories!  

Lastly, it seems that you guys are pretty concerned about how I am feeling, but I want you to know that I am happier than I have ever been.  My mission has been the greatest experience of my life, and I have grown so much because if it.  Rest assured that I am doing well!  

I love you all so very much!  Have an amazing week!  

Elder Draper

A Brightness of Hope

Heya!

Zone Conference this week was incredible.  There was such an amazing spirit as we gathered together as representatives of our Saviour.  I absolutely loved the focus on faith.  The fact that faith is the power that makes things happen that need to happen!  

Elder Gato!  What a legend.  It's his birthday today!  He is continuing to grow in confidence both in the language and in his own ability.  I love his testimony.  Great things ahead for that lad.

The Romford area is so great.  The work is moving forward in an amazing way!  We saw one of this capital "M" miracles this week.  Right after sacrament meeting we went out to mingle with members when we saw this woman dressed in pink that looked lost.  We  went over and spoke to her and she explained how she had just moved in to the area, and she googled which churches to go to.  She scrolled through the list saying to herself "I'm not a baptist, or a catholic" until she came to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She decided that is where she wanted to go.  So her and her daughter came to church and LOVED it!  She participated a ton in gospel principles and her daughter loved primary!  They are excited to come again next week.  What a Miracle!

I have been studying hope a lot this week.  I read an incredible talk by Neal A Maxwell that is entitled "A Brightness of Hope" and have loved learning more about how that kind of hope relates to faith and motivates is to act to the best of our ability.  Here is a really cool quote from the talk:

"Genuine hope is urgently needed in order to be more loving even as the love of many waxes cold; more merciful, even when misunderstood or misrepresented; more holy, even as the world ripens in iniquity; more courteous and patient in a coarsening and curt world; and more full of heartfelt hope, even when other men’s hearts fail them. Whatever our particular furrow, we are to “plow in hope,” without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage (1 Cor. 9:10)."

I know that if we place our hope in Christ we will find joy.  He is at the helm.  

I look forward to hear from D. Todd Christofferson.  What a blessing.  I am so excited to hear from an Apostle and learn how to improve as an instrument in the Lords hands! 

From his letter to the family:
I hear that Maddie gave an amazing talk!  Maddie... you are awesome and I had no doubts that you would knock everyone's socks off and make Mom cry!  Well done!

To answer some questions:
Yes!  I take public transportation everywhere!  We take awesome double decker buses and preach the gospel on the bus!  Although, president asked me to do my 3 hours of driving this week.  So, on Thursday I will be driving on the LEFT side of the road!  Pray for me :)

The Romford Ward is great!  It's not very big though.  Around 20 active members.  We get fed maybe once a week.  Which is really good. We are working in building this great ward and are working with some really cool people!

It rains a bunch over here!  It's pretty bipolar weather.  Either blue skies and nice weather or hurricane speed winds and pouring rain. It's awesome and I love it!  Look up and drink it!  Haha! I am having a wonderful time!  Hope you have an amazing week!  Take care!

Love you all! 

Elder Draper

Watch this video on London Rain!!!

Helping someone quit smoking by stealing their tobacco:

The Power of Sincere Prayer

Heya!

This week has been crazy!

We spent a lot of time in Ilford this week.  Mostly for District Meeting and Exchanges.  One time, we were doing a TTI to a man and he was explaining the Sikh religion to us.  Then all of the sudden he was like... "I'll show you!"  So he took with his chauffeur and took is to the Sikh temple.  It was quite the experience.  We had to take our shoes off and cover our heads.  We looked like pirates... but that's beside the point.  It was super interesting!  Sikh people are super peaceful and a lovely people.  In the temple it felt calm... slightly awkward, and I could tell the Spirit wasn't there.  So I just prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for having the Restored Gospel in my life and that I know for myself that Sikhism is not for me. Other than that, we are doing fantastic here!  Our friends Senessie,
Katie, and Maxine are doing well.  We got to do a mission wide fast. It was incredible.  President Stevens is just amazing.  It blows my mind how in tune with the Spirit he is. We also found out that D. Todd Christofferson is coming to visit our mission!  That is exciting! Something I really have felt this week is the power of sincere prayer. I know that as we diligently and sincerely seek our Fathers council and guidance he will give it to us.  He loves us SO MUCH! I know that Jesus Christ Lives!

Have an amazing week!

Elder Draper