11/11/13
Buenos Tardes mis queridos!
What a week it has been!! Well
regarding the title of this email, and the biggest news this week... The
boundaries of the Westgreen and Bearcreek wards were changed and a third ward
was created!! An entire new ward! Not just a branch! And last week the Conroe Branch
was also made into a ward! When the Stake President was speaking he explained a
bit of the history of the church in the West Houston area, and just 15
years ago there were only two branches. And now I think there are fifteen wards
and three branches!! How incredible is that?? We are truly building the Kingdom
of God here on earth! It is so exciting! But clearly with the news yesterday,
it was quite an emotional day for all the members. This ward is so big, but it
is so tightly knit. The Stake President definitely testified a lot of the
blessings of obedience, and really what a spectacular opportunity this is.
(Actually, one of the families we have gotten super close to these past few
transfers fed us dinner, and insisted that we also went to get frozen custard
real fast (since there is this famous frozen custard place called Ritter's
by their house and they found out that I hadn't been there yet... needless to
say. It was amazing. Jill and dad would die.). We thought they were just being
extremely nice, little did we know that he knew we were no longer going to be
in his ward. Oh, and did I mention he was called to be Bishop of the new ward??
So many great opportunities for new leaders… Also yesterday, amid the craziness
of the announcement, we also saw the miracle that one of the families we are
teaching came to church! Remember the ones that made us the giant flan? Well I
guess they have a work commitment making tortillas or something on Sunday
mornings, so yesterday they woke up at four am to make sure they finished in
time to come to church!! It was a bit strange for their first day, but it was
also amazing to see how orderly the church really is. How could it not be true?
It is truly guided by God! They loved it and I am excited to visit with them
more this week.
Well, a bit of a heartbreaker this
week. Remember Maria who was going to get baptized next week? Well, she moved
to Iowa... She had really been going back and forth on her decision for the
past few months, since all her kids live there, but had decided she needed to
stay here for a while longer. Well, a few crazy things happened at the house of
the senor that she watches and she took it as her sign that it was time to go.
So she packed up and left that night. Fortunately, we had an appointment with
her that day. So we go just as normal, she told us all that had happened and
then we carried on with the lesson. It ended up being such a powerful lesson.
She is so full of faith and love for her Savior, but still had questions about
latter day prophets. So that morning we had felt we should read in Joseph Smith
history about his first hand experience regarding the first vision. The spirit
was so strong as we talked and really clarified that we don't worship prophets
but really they are the humblest of the servants of God. That they are called
to testify of Christ, just like the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and us! But
also, through them, the priesthood of God is here on the earth, so they can do
the things Christ would do if He were here. It wasn't until the very end of the
lesson that she broke the news that she was leaving, and it was a battle to
fight back tears, I truly love that woman so much. But she promised to
keep reading the Book of Mormon, searching for the truth, and we are going to
send the missionaries of Iowa to her once we get her address. We were talking
to our ward mission leader who just moved from Iowa, and he said that they
hardly have any Spanish wards up there, but ya know what? God will always
provide a way if we have the faith. We keep fervently praying for her, because
we know how special she is and how much this will truly bless her and her
family. I don't have a doubt that she will be baptized, and it's like Elder
Barney said "we are all on the same team!". I am so thankful that I
had these past few months to have really gotten to know her, her example
through the many trials she has faced has been a huge fortaleza for me. I know
that God is watching over her, and he will direct her path! I'll keep you updated
on the miracles that are going to happen with her, as we will stay in contact.
Also, on Saturday morning we had the
privilege to help out the English stake with their family history open house!
They set up a ton of laptops all over the gym and invited everyone to come and
get started on their family history. I had the chance to work with one family
very special. We got started with the mom on adding in her history and she told
me that there was one person in specific that she has really felt has been
pressing her for the past little while. There was a bit of a story of how they
were related, but ultimately she was adopted by her aunt, but they didn't have
any of the records, and she lost contact with the family after she had gotten
older. This member knew nothing more than her name, and the year of
death. Well, with a fervent prayer in my heart, since I am no family history
expert, we started searching the billions of records they have on familysearch.org. Within
a half an hour we had found her wedding records, death record, and the
birth records of her two children. From this we had her full information
of birth date and place, death date and place, her husbands information, her
children’s information, everything! We were able to prepare her name for the
temple, and the member is going this week. I know that it would not have been
possible to find all that information if we had not had so much help from the
other side. The spirit of Elijah is so real and so powerful. I love family
history! This member also had a binder full of pictures and information and it
was so fun to see her eyes light up as she shared stories of her family. Like
her amazing grandfather for example who came over from Italy alone by boat. He
worked in the mines, but then got an apprenticeship with a shoemaker.
Eventually he got famous and made the boots worn in the movie Frankenstein
which are now in the Smithsonian. People love to know where they are from. Our
roots are so valuable. Like I said when we watched 17 miracles, many of our
ancestors have given so much for us so that we might have better lives. One of
the quotes from the movie that hits me is when she says "it will all be
worth it if my posterity keeps the faith". People, family history is
amazing. And even more, we can serve and help these people in ways that they
can't help themselves. I know that we have a great responsibility to do family
history, but why would we not want to??
Well. This week has been great. So
many other miracles that I would love to share, but as for now, just know that
the Lord is hastening his work and I am so thankful that I can be part of it.
Thank you so much for the support
and love. I love you all so very much and "I am mindful of you always in
my prayers". Remember that God is good, so just trust in Him and He will
direct thy path! Replace fear with faith.
les quiero,
Hermana Draper
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