1/06/14
Hola mi querida familia! Well, give
me just a moment as I try to compose myself... CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS AND
ERIN!!! I can't explain how incredibly happy I am for you two.
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA! I hope it
was full of joy.
Well this week was fantastic! What
better time to recommit to being a true disciple of Jesus Christ than now?
Yesterday we had so many miracles with people coming to church. Number one...
THE CUBANS CAME TO CHURCH! I don't know if you understand how truly miraculous
that is! They had to make so many sacrifices to get Sunday's off, and they did
it all so that they would be able to come to church and obey God's commandments.
Also, it was a perfect day for them to come because it was testimony meeting! I
love having investigators present for fast Sunday because they can hear how the
gospel has influenced and blessed the lives of so many different people, it's
not just missionaries walking around, preaching. Then in gospel principles the
lesson was on the word of wisdom, something we may or may not have been
hesitant to teach… and the teacher did an amazing job and explaining it and
answering their doubts (like how they used to drink wine in the bible...). It
was awesome, and they said that they felt so good in the chapel. There are also
so many less actives members that we have been visiting a lot that came to
church! Like remember the amazing family that we ate with on Christmas Eve?
They all came! And Hermana even bore her testimony about the power of prayer.
It was so great.
The other day after an appointment
fell through, we weren't quite sure where to go, so we decided to walk over to
the Mexican market and try and make some friends in there. Well, we made some
small talk, but nothing much. We decided we should get a fruit, and as we were
standing in line, the guy behind us asked us if we visited a lot in the nearby
apartments, because he had seen us walking around before. Then he actually
introduced himself and said that the hermanas had been visiting his brothers
for a long time, but he was always working when they went over. I had heard
about his brothers, and how they were amazing! But they moved to Mexico, so
they stopped visiting that apartment. But apparently he still lives there and
wants us to come and visit him! We gave him his own copy of the Book of Mormon
and he said he is very excited to learn more! Miracles! God does lead us to his
prepared children, or his prepared children to us. Best part, all he bought was
an avocado. He too just needed an excuse to go to the Mexican market!
One more cool experience about how
the Lord placed us at the right place at the right time. So we received a
referral from a member multiple transfers ago, and we have tried so many times,
and only gotten in once. Well when we were planning the night before, Hermana
Townsend felt like we should stop by and try again. Well, we got there... and
no one was home… So we decided to write a note. Just as we were finishing, she
walked around the corner! She explained that she had to be out of her apartment
in the morning and she really didn't have time. Well, we asked if we could help...
she said no... then we asked again... and she said yes! We ended up being there
for the rest of the night helping her box and throw stuff away. At first we
felt like it may just be an opportunity for service, then she ended up opening
up to us about some really hard trials that she has been facing. She asked if
we believed in the adversary, and why we think we go through trials, etc. We
ended up having a deep discussion about the purpose and importance of
opposition in our lives. We were also able to talk with the member that gave us
the referral, and later that night he stopped by and gave her a blessing and
she explained that she felt a fire go through her, and then just felt so at
peace with everything. She said she really wants us to come and visit her and
explain to her more of the gospel and how she can have this feeling of peace
all the time. I know that God put us in the perfect situation to help his
daughter!
The Church is so true. This is the
true, restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only way to find true, lasting
peace in this life and in the life to come! I am so grateful to be a missionary
at this time. I love Texas. I love the people here. I love Spanish. I love
life. I am so grateful for the trials that we face, so that we can fully
appreciate the love of God. Come what may and love it, it's for the betterment
of your soul! Replace fear with faith.
I love you all so much! Thank you
for all that you do and for all the love that I feel. Remember, God is so much
more aware of you than you can even imagine. He loves His children.
LES QUIERO DEMASIADO,
Hermana Draper
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