Romford Da Bombford

Heya!

This week has been pretty great! I got to my new area Romford and it is incredible!  Romford is technically still London (Zone 6) it is very, very East London headed more towards Essex.  The area we live is really nice. Our flat is pretty posh.  Anyways, we are teaching a pretty great family.  The Essex family.  Vickie (the daughter) is a recent convert.  She has been a member for about 3 weeks.  Sharon (her mom) saw the change the gospel made in her daughters life, and is now taking the lessons.  She is great!  They have a crazy three legged dog and a grandma who is permanently in the living room (Charlie and the Chocolate factory style) and they always tell the most random stories when we teach them!  It's pretty great! 

Oh, I forgot to tell more about my companion.  His name is Elder Gato, and he is from Para, Brazil!  He is working on speaking English, so sometimes I have absolutely no idea what he is trying to say to me. But he's either getting better, or I'm learning how to speak Portuguenglish (Portuguese English) because it's getting better. 

Something I have been thinking a lot about this week is how faith precedes the miracles.  I love scriptures like Alma 26:22, Ether 12:22, Mosiah 8:18, and Moroni 7:33 that tell us exactly what we can do when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  In Alma 26:27 it says "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."  It always seems to be after trials that we can see the Lords tender mercies.  It is so often the fourth floor last door. night in the pouring rain.  The last house on a long street when we see miracles.  I know that as we go through these trials with faith, we become better acquainted with our Saviour and Redeemer.  We grow spiritually.  We become in tune with the Spirit, who comforts and guides us through the storms of life.  I know that this is the Lords work.  I know that it helps us realize our Divine potential.  I know that Jesus Christ lives.  He loves us so personally and so completely. As we show faith in him he will bear us up and carry us home.

Love you all!  Have an amazing week!

Elder Draper

We asked him to send us pics of his new and very "posh" flat:

Talking to the Family for Mother's Day 2017

Beginnings and Endings (and a Transfer to Romford)

Heya!

Hope you are all having a brilliant week!

First of all, there is some news!  Transfers are tomorrow and I will be leaving the blessed land of Britannia and heading for East London in an area called Romford in the Romford Zone. It's exciting! Leaving central London in a YSA ward to the East side in a family one. I am beyond excited for this new assignment!  I love thinking that there is a reason the Lord would have me be there.  People I can help, things I can learn, and a chance to grow. I have loved my time serving in Britannia.  I have come to love the ward and the people here so much!  I have made great memories and amazing friendships.

This week we had some amazing experiences!  We were able to teach a man called William, who had been investigating the church about 6 months ago, but decided to stop.  After a miracle and getting back in touch with him we were able to have an amazing lesson with him.  We took him through the Hyde Park visitors centre and used the exhibits to teach him faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was so powerful!  The spirit was there in the lesson.  He is excited to learn more and can't wait to feel the Holy Ghost more in his life.

Another great experience this week was teaching a man called Gerald. He is from the Philippines and has many questions about God.  We taught him about the Restoration and showed him a video about Joseph Smiths first vision and the spirit just filled the room!  It was almost tangible!  After the video he looked at us and said, "I'm speechless."  He went on to say that it helped him feel something deep inside of him.  It was an amazing experience.

The title is called beginnings and endings because I was hinting about what an amazing beginning baptism is.  It's the beginning of a new life devoted to God.  It's a fresh start, a clean slate.  We were able to see three amazing people enter into this covenant with God on Sunday and it was amazing.  Hearing their testimonies about coming to know that he was there and that he loved them always strengthens my own.  The changes these people make, and their dedication to come closer to Christ is incredible.

I know that this is the Lords work.  I know that he guides it.  He is more involved than we sometimes think.  I love being an instrument in His hands.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Elder Draper

Gratitude for the Priesthood

Heya Everyone!

Exciting things are happening!   Elder Nelson and I have been exploring this great city we get to live in.  Finding in places we've never been before!  It was refreshing and exciting!  Another thing we've found great joy in was visiting members and helping hem set goals to come closer to Christ.  We got to meet with some amazing recent converts and they set amazing goals that we all fasted together for.  It was just great! 

Some of the sweetest experiences of my mission have happened this week.  One of the times was when Elder Hulett told us that someone called and explained a situation that their Uncle was on vacation on London with his daughter when she had a heart attack and died.  We got the chance to go to the hotel he was staying at and visit him with our ward mission leader (Jacint from Hungary) It was one of the sweetest experiences of my mission thus far.  We sat in the hotel lobby and talked about his mission, his family, and life in general.  He was sharing beautiful memories with us.  Then at one point he was telling us a story about singing Hymns in the missionary discussions and when he said the title of the Hymn "I know at my Redeemer Lives" he got really choked up.  The spirit filled the room as this man, who had just experienced such a devastating tragedy, remembered one of his favourite Hymns about the Saviour.  It was such a sweet moment.  Then we went downstairs to the breakfast area where there wasn't a soul (this was late in the evening) and gave him a blessing of comfort.  I am so grateful for the priesthood.  I'm grateful I have the chance to hold it and be worthy to help others through it. Later in the week we had another opportunity to visit a less active lady who was in some pretty severe pain with our ward mission leader and it was just another experience where I was grateful to serve others through the priesthood. 

Jun is doing really well! Everyone in the Britannia ward thinks he is already a member!  He passed his interview and is looking forward to his baptism next Sunday!  After he tried on the baptismal clothes, he said "well, lets do this" and started heading for the font!  He is so excited! This is the Lords work!  I am so humbled and grateful to be a part of it.  I know that Jesus Christ leads this church.  Striving to be an instrument in His hands is such an exhilarating adventure!

Hope you all have a brilliant week!

Elder Draper

Apostasy

This week has been fantastic!

Man, I love serving in London.  There was some crazy stuff going on!  On Earth Day, there was a HUGE science rally right outside the Hyde Park Chapel because it's right across the street from the science museum.  It was insane!  There were thousands of people that were yelling and holding up signs about science and other crazy things.  It was pretty entertaining to watch.  Then, to get to our flat we had to walk through this mob of passionate science lovers.  It was awesome.  

Our friend Jun has been progressing a lot this week.  It's amazing the change that happens in people when they do the small and simple things.  I really believe that his recent change of heart came from his reading and praying each day.  It's no surprise that President Monson addressed the importance of reading from the Book of Mormon each day.  It helps gain, build, and strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I know it is the word of God.  I know that there is real power and protection we gain when we put time in to studying it.  

I guess all those following along at home are wondering why this email is called apostasy.  Well.  This Sunday we were able to do something pretty fun that I have never done before.  Our friend Alvin (from Singapore) told us that if he came to our church service, we had to come to his.  So of course we took him up on that tantalizing offer.  Alvin really enjoyed our church.  He was asking so many great questions and it was such a relief that he was genuinely interested in learning and seeking truth.  So, as promised, we met him at his student housing and went to his church with him.  It was a learning experience for sure.  There was a band with guitar and drums and lots of saying recited prayers.  I am so grateful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is such a stark difference between the two services.  I am grateful for the spirit, and how it testifies of truth.  I'm so grateful that the priesthood was restored, and for the knowledge we have about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It's incredible how important those plain and simple truths are. 

Well, I hope you all have an amazing week!  Read the Book of Mormon!

Love ya!

Elder Draper

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