A wonderful week in Calgary

Heidi was baptized by her father who was baptized only a month before
Families are forever!
Ryan making friends with the Morales family pet ;)

YO!

This week was amazing! We came, we saw, and we conquered!! Tons of incredible miracles...it was a week full of high lights basically. The first one was that Heidi was baptized yesterday!! At the start of the week there was zero signs of it happening...Luz the mom really wanted to have her wait awhile. But, on Wednesday Franky (Marisol's son), the member who brought them into the church, went over and talked to them, and said something good because that is where the permission was given. So we had just a couple days to plan the service and get her interviewed. It was easily the most spiritual baptisms I have been to. The people we assigned for the talks were super inspired and just brought the Spirit so strongly. And then of course to see a recent convert, (her father) in the water baptizing his daughter and blessing the sacrament earlier for the first time was awesome! So that was sweet, and on Wednesday we are going over to their house to eat tacos al pastor, one of my favorites. Last week we put a random English member in our plans and stopped by. The lady is pregnant and I think for that reason was a little grumpy at us haha. She did not want to set up an appt. with us, so to get us off her back she said look elders our neighbors next door just moved here from Venezuela, go for it. That was all we needed. We walked over and two teenagers answered, Marlo and Brandon. They went and got their mom Irilda. We talked to them for a few minutes and set up a return appointment for Saturday. We brought our new branch missionaries, who are from Venezuela as well. We were not able to teach anything, because the two families hit it off really well and talked for a longgg time (I am not going to say how long haha) but we found out enough about them. The husband is Jimmy and they are a super friendly and nice family. They don't believe in the Catholic church, which I always love hearing ha. But they said since they have been here in Canada, they have not attended a church. Irilda told us that the very day we knocked the door and met them, she had mentioned to her husband that they needed to join a Christian church here in Spanish...interesting huh? Then she told us that a lot of her loved ones have passed away, and she said she has a "feeling" that families are supposed to last forever, and not end when we die. We were able to talk about how we are probably the only church that teaches that doctrine, and we got them super excited about meeting with us. They wanted to come to church yesterday, but were not able to. We are pumped to start teaching them! Those were the two big highlights, among other great things too but not enough time for me to share it all.

My personal study this morning was very revelatory and the Lord was definitely teaching me this one principle. The culmination of it I guess (wow that's a big word for me) was when I read D&C 64:33-34. That hit me big time. We cannot give up on choosing the right and making righteous decisions, even when it seems like nothing is coming of it. God is eternal, and so are His blessings for us. We put a timetable on everything, but that is not how eternal life is. Just keep enduring righteously, and trust that He is aware of your sacrifices. We are already in debt to Him, but He is not keeping track. So I guess that turned into the spiritual thought of the day haha.

I already told Blake, but my guesses for him are Australia and Texas Spanish speaking. I didn't pick those because I had strong feelings like when I picked Canada, honestly they were just the first 2 that popped in my head. I don't know how I am going to focus this week! I am super excited for him. Darn you couldn't wait one more day to take me to Daughtry too! Haha that will be a fun couple of days for you, I am jealous! You never told me how his new album turned out, I assume that is what he is playing.

About a new suit, yes mom today I plan on going to Moores and getting a new suit and maybe a new white shirt, so I might need a little extra money in the account. Also, do I need to bring home the snowboarding bag and church clothes bag? I am hoping to come home with just a backpack and sending the rest of the stuff home through the mail, but if you need the luggage let me know.Thanks for the heads up on my homecoming speaking date on Fathers Day, I am glad I don't have to write a homecoming talk while I am still out here then...I have some time to think about it. I would like a BYU basketball update also if that is ok. Anyways, I better get going but good luck to Blake! I will be expecting to hear where the Lord needs him as soon as you can get the news to me!!

Love you all and have a great time at conference!!!

Elder Draper

10 more emails to go

In front of Ranchman's Restaurant the bar where they filmed the movie Cool Runnings - also known as the party headquarters for the Calgary Stampede

Happy St. Patty's Day back to y'all!!

Just when you think the good stuff is going to happen, the opposition sets in....big time!! But it's alright, I have gotten used to it ha. I emailed this to President so I just attached it here:

We taught Estefania yesterday and had maybe the most spiritually edifying lesson I have been a part of it. Basically, we asked her to pray at the end of the lesson, and she prayed to Jesus and was not specific about baptism, so we had her do it again. She prayed correctly and asked so specifically, and I felt the Spirit very strongly. Normally, when we do a Spirit recognition with her, she says she feels "normal", probably avoiding her true feelings, but this time she actually expressed a spiritual experience she had during the prayer. She felt like the Spirit filled her and actually moved her to a different location in the room, but when she opened her eyes, she was still in the same place. We asked her what that meant and she said she did not know. Well, she knew what that meant, and we testified boldly that that was an answer from God. She denied it as an answer for baptism, even though she specifically asked about that. She said she has felt that way before asking about other things. Well there is not much more we can do there, she got her answer and openly denied it. Very, very sad, but Elder Brandon and I walked out knowing we accomplished our purpose, and the Spirit bore witness of it. The Lord taught me a great deal through teaching her, and my testimony was strengthened. We will see what happens.

So we dropped her :( But, there is nothing else we can do with her. Opposition with Heidi as well. Her mother still feels like she is not ready to be baptized. Luz still wants to get to know the church before she gives permission. But, we are again doing everything in our control to speed that up. We asked the Relief Society president to visit them Tuesday, branch missionary couple to visit them Wednesday, and elder's quorum president Friday. Huge blessing, so hopefully Luz will give us that permission this week! Miguel got the Aaronic priesthood yesterday so he is pumped and supportive of Heidi getting baptized. They are just the coolest family though, I gotta come back next year whenever they get sealed. Victor is progressing very well. He is so innocent for a 19 year old, sometimes I feel like I am teaching somebody much younger. We are meeting with him tomorrow and are going to help him see that he already has a testimony of the gospel and needs to take that step of faith in being baptized. But other than that, we found a couple of new FAMILIES to teach. Super sweet finding miracles. The Spirit is essential in this work, actually the only thing you need to see the miracles. Hopefully new solid investigators on the way this week. I interviewed a 14 year old for baptism on Saturday (I interviewed his mom 3 weeks earlier), and he was totally ready, but yesterday woke up feeling bad apparently and not ready, so it got cancelled. Probably just scared or nervous, but hopefully it happens soon...

Rachel you looked great at Mormal!!! (I want to use a better adjective than "great", but that might sound weird coming from your brother haha). Looks like you had a great time dancing and being with your group of friends.

Thanks for sharing that experience mom. I too have gained a testimony of inspirations like that and other profound types of revelations from God. The gift of the Holy Ghost is probably the greatest blessing we have on Earth...somebody to comfort, guide, protect, teach. Pretty incredible, and taken advantage of many times by us.

Well that is all the time I have this week, kinda crazy I will only be sending 10 more emails! I love you all and hope you have a great week. Man, so excited for the next mission call in our family. Good luck Blake! :)

Love,

Elder Draper

A visit from an Apostle yesterday

Love this picture with Elder Quentin L. Cook! Such an amazing man!
Smiling in short sleeves - happy the Canadian winter has been so warm this year :)
Good ol' Elder Soliz getting ready to hoop it up with Ryan on Pday
On the way to the temple last week

Good morning!

Sheesh what a great week. Maybe one of the happiest most fulfilling weeks of my mission. We just got after it and worked our tails off...it feels so great. Yesterday was pretty cool because we had a special stake conference with Elder Quentin L. Cook. We got some great 2nd row seats and were right there in the action. He spoke about past prophetic counsel we have received, and how they came right before big problems struck, like Hinckley warning us to get out of debt, then a few years later the economic crisis hit. Very uplifting talk, and of course he bore a powerful testimony of Christ and his Atonement. Through "special spiritual experiences", he knows that Christ fulfilled the Atonement. After the conference, he walked off the stage and everybody ran up to him. It took him 20 min. to get to the foyer, shaking every one's hands. It wasn't until he got out to the foyer that I got my chance to shake his hand! I went up to him and he asked me how I was doing up here in Canada and if I was getting fed well haha. Then a member in our ward quickly snapped a photo of us with him! Pretty neat!! It was funny, we walked out with him and the stake president, and both of them got into the stake president's huge Toyota Tundra (super weird seeing an apostle of Jesus Christ sitting shot gun in a huge, raised truck haha), and while they were backing up to leave, the stake president backed right into a pole!!! Haha the look on Elder Cook's face was priceless. GOOD TIMES!

Ok as far as investigators: Heidi, the daughter of Luz and Miguel Baca, should be getting baptized this Sunday. We are going over to eat tacos al pastor with them tomorrow and teach Miguel how to perform the baptism (he receives the priesthood this Sunday). Last night we taught Victor Morante again (he was officially adopted this week by his aunt and uncle!) It was an amazing lesson! Last week we gave him a plan of salvation pamphlet and he read the whole thing and answered all of the questions that it has, also read all of the scripture references. He basically taught us the whole thing! We read with him out of 2 Nephi 31 where God himself says to repent and be baptized in the name of Christ, but Vitor said he doesn't feel he needs to be baptized to show God he wants to follow Christ. He just does not understand the doctrine of baptism well enough, so that is our focus for Wednesday. But, he is very humble and said a great closing prayer asking to know if that if God's will for him. We are super confident that he will be ready to be baptized on the 25th of March, as long as he makes the decision. Estefania, we weren't able to teach her this week, but will be visiting her tonight. I felt like we were kind of attacking the Catholic Church too much last lesson, even though we just pulled out scriptures to show her. We are going to focus on the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, because if she can strengthen her testimony of those things, she will be more willing to change. We want to try to build her faith in Christ rather than destroy it. We are doing absolutely everything we can for these 3 people to get them into the waters of baptism this month. We'll see what happens.

It is super warm here, so I am having a blast being outside walking around and talking to people. The last few months have been spent in the car, and it is hard to feel like a missionary doing that. So this week has been super refreshing for me. There was one baptismal date set in the zone this week, for next Sunday. So we just need 4 more from our zone in order to complete our share of the 100 in the mission. Let's do it!!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.

Love,

Elder Draper

P.S. Travel plans are here!!! I got an end of the mission packet with that included. We gotta figure out what we wanna do the day I get back, because I land at 12:15 pm!!!!

2nd best email I got this week!

12 weeks to go and technically 1 transfer left!

Saturday Rocky went through the Cardston Temple to receive his endowment. Ryan baptized him just over a year ago - WONDERFUL PAY DAY for a missionary!

Making time to to help with a food drive

Que onda!?

Transfer news: Elder Brandon and I are staying put and continuing on as ZL's. This is our 4th transfer together plus one more when we served together in June last year. The Lord has his plans for us. It'll be great and I'm excited for some baptisms this month!

Best experience of my mission happened this week, as you can imagine. Juan Carlos is now an endowed member of the church! It was the coolest experience ever. He picked us up about 8 am and we drove down to Cardston. It was very windy and just a little chilly, but not terrible as you can see in the picture. We got there and he asked me to be his escort. It was a really neat experience. A lady took us into a room and she checked over his recommend. Then, we met with the 1st counselor of the temple presidency, and he welcomed Rocky to the temple. We went and got our temple clothing, and he went straight in through initiatories while I waited for him. Then we changed into our whites and met up with the 1st counselor again, and he spoke to us for about 15 min about the temple ordinances (that was just a joy to translate haha). Then, we headed to the chapel to wait for the session to start. When the session started, it was in English and everybody was super confused, so after a brief delay they got the Spanish going. I guess that's what happens in the Spanish session. He had no problems during the session. I went into the celestial room first anxiously waiting for him to pass through. I saw him walk in and the Spirit just overpowered me! I gave him a big hug and welcomed him in. What an experience! All I could think about was D&C 19, about the joy we will have when we see those we bring into the church in the kingdom of God. I really feel like I experienced that that day in the temple. Something I will never forget. We grabbed an amazing temple cafeteria lunch and headed home. Can't describe how I felt seeing him go through that. I imagine that is how it is for your children when they first go through. Love it!

Well there was so much that happened this week that I don't know where to start. I am glad that we are staying busy at the end of the mission, or else it would be super difficult I think. On Sunday night we taught for the first time Victor. He is the nephew of a Spanish couple here. They are actually adopting him this week, so he will be their son! He is 19 and has such a good honest heart. He knows a good amount of the LDS doctrine, and he is like 100% committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. He is preparing to be baptized on the 25th. I love him, such a good friend. Estefania...sheesh I have never been more spiritually drained than after appointments with her! I love her too, but just soooo tied and getting impatient with her Catholic beliefs. We got her to contradict herself several times last night about infant baptisms and the apostasy. She is standing at the edge of the baptismal font, leaning over the edge looking in, so we are just about to push her in! Haha we have done our best job using the scriptures to show her the truth, so we are just praying that she makes her decision now, whether to get baptized or discontinue meeting with us. We taught 4 other new investigators this week, all ladies. They were all referrals from members (yay members!). 2 of them seem very interested, while the other 2 seem to be mas o menos interested. We also taught Diego and Sara again, a Colombian couple. I love this family and hope they will make a little more time for us so we can help them. Super humble and would be solid members of the church. So yeah we are insanely busy now teaching people. It has been really neat to see how the teaching pool has grown drastically in my 2 transfers here. I think it comes down to us seeking way more revelation and diligently following it. I'd say there has been times in my mission where I was doing the work and making the decisions, but lately it has been the Lord making the decisions and us doing what He inspires us to do. Revelation is absolutely key to our salvation and success, and I'm grateful I have been able to learn how the Spirit works with me.

Well that is about it for this week. Maddie I feel bad for that girl that she would say those things to you. I don't know how to say this in English, but no le hagas caso. Like, just don't even pay attention to her. She doesn't know a thing about what Mormons believe. But thank you for sticking up for the truth and what you believe, we need to do that better, like President Monson says.

I love you! And I love the rest of you! Only about 12 more weeks left, let's make it count!

Take care! Love Elder Draper