Where is the time going?

April 11, 2016

It feels like a couple days a ago I was in Otavalo teaching the Lamanite descendants, and this transfer period is almost over here in Quito.

This week we are still running on the excitement that Quito will have a temple!  The local leaders are starting to be direct to the members in the fact that they are not prepared and what they need to do to be prepared for the temple.  

This week I ponderized Alma 32:27.  Here the prophet Alma teaching a group of people is talking about faith.  We should take heed and put to practice the words of the prophets and if we cant we should have a sincere desire to do so, doing do will bring the ability to continue and grow in our faith. 

This week, Elder Quintana and I are looking a lot for people to teach.  And we have had some experiences talking with the people.  Many reject us respectfully, other accept our visits. and other people that reject us not very nicely. One person I remember told us that she was not going to accept us because she did not want to accept Americans in her home.  At first it hurt a little bit, but I got over it, then it basically happened again later in the week.  But I am learning to take these experiences and grow.

Elder Draper,

until the next week.

¡Conferencia General! Y templo en Quito, Ecuador!!!!!!!!!!!

April 4, 2016

This week, the highlight would have to be the grand opportunity to learn and hear at the feet of the prophet of God: Thomas S. Monson, and the Apostles called and chosen by Jesus Christ.  I hope everyone had a chance to listen to these men, If you did not, I invite you to do so.  I learned a lot from this past weekend and testify that each one of you can learn something special only for yourself.

There were talks and testimonies for everyone.  President Eyring even talked about this.  If we come to Conference with a question or looking for revelation, we can and will find it if we apply ourselves.  He said listen to each testimony as you will find something for each and everyone one of you.  I was listening and looking for the testimony of each speaker, but sometimes I could not find them.  I then looked in the Scripture study guide in the back of the Spanish scriptures and learned that testimony was what the leaders were sharing and teaching.  I testify that what President Eyring said is true.  

In this General Conference we had the chance to hear about 4 new temples of the Lord here on the earth,  AND ONE WILL COME TO QUITO!!!!!! It is a great time we live in to have so many temples across the land, and earth. We heard this announcement and the entire chapel screamed and shouted for the joy and excitement they had as a temple is coming to this city. 

This past week I ponderized the verse found in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2.  In this verse, it speaks about how we will receive the voice of the Holy Spirit of God.  It will speak to our minds and our hearts as it dwells in our hearts.   I remember this scripture in seminary, the teacher asked which is said more? mind or heart?  and if you have conflicting thoughts and feelings, which should we follow?  We should follow the feelings we have in our hearts if they will bring us closer to Christ.  

 

That time has come again...but dont worry, I will be fine.  Until next week. 

Elder Clark Draper

Happy Easter!

(March 28, 2016)

Primarily I hope that everyone of you had a memorable Easter.

This past week I ponderized is found in Alma 6:5.  It talks about how no one was rejected from gathering to hear the word of God.  As missionaries, we help in this.  We invite everyone, everywhere, to gather to hear the word of God. 

This past Saturday, WE HAD A BAPTISM!  We had been working with a family, and after three weeks they took the first steps in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It was amazing to see them enter the waters of baptism.  Afterwards, as they were giving their testimonies, sharing their feelings, they both said that they felt a load being relieved from off of their backs.

As well this week, we had a zone conference with the President of the Mission.  We learned better ways to share the first mission lesson: the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I hope that you all have a great week.  

Adiós

Hasta Luego,

Elder Draper

Week 2 Pusuqui

(March 21, 2016)

I apologize for the in creative title for this week.  We have not had a lot going on this.

First I want to share the scripture that I ponderized this week: Romans 12:21.  It is a short, simple, yet powerful verse.  Many of us have problems in our lives and we claim that things happen because that is the way they are.  But with this verse it is different. We should use what we can and overcome these difficulties. 

My companion and I have been working with a family this week, the "T" family, with their young kid.  They have been progressing very well.  They are excited to take part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

But other than this we weren't able to do a lot more this week. 

 

The time has now come to a close once again.  But be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest...

Elder Draper.

Bario Pusuqui

(March 14, 2016)

After one week in the new sector I am enjoying being here in Quito, with my new companion: Elder Quintana.  In this sector we have family that is preparing for their baptismal date on the 26 of March.  They are progressing well, and are animated for this grand step in their lives.

The family we have with a date, they own a auto repair kind of shop, and we passed by this week and we helped them prep a car to be repainted.  It was a cool experience to do a little bit of service.

This week I ponderized a verse found in Doctrine and Covenants 138:10, I found it studying about the plan of Salvation that God has for each one of us here on Earth. And when I read this verse I understood more clearly the purpose of the spirit world.

The photos are of my companion and I helping prep the car.

  

Chao,

Elder Draper

New Transfer!

(March 7, 2016)

Well today is the first day of the new change, or transfer.  I am no longer in Otavalo, the land of the Lamanites.  But, I am now in the capital city of the country, Quito.  But because of how big Quito is, there are 4 zones of missionaries each zone having at least 20 missionaries. I am in the Zona Ofelia, ward Pusuquí.  My new companion is Elder Quintana.  He is from Lima, Peru and is close to finishing his mission.

This week as a district we ponderized a scripture it is found in Ether. 12:6. It says that the testimony doesn't come until after the trial of our faith.  As well, as a zone we ponderized a different scripture. This one is found in the Doctrine and Covenants 18:44 which says that it is through us that God and Jesus Christ will do and complete their work.  We must continue being strong and do what we are supposed to do.  

This week, Elder Nielson and I saw a miracle this week.  First for the month of March we felt that we should put 8 confirmations as a goal for a little over a week.  We didn't know how that was going to work out because we had 6 people already with a date and a possibility of 1 or 3 more but not 2.  Well, we went and did a family home evening with one of our investigators with a date, and her mother in law, an active member told us that we needed to baptize her son because the church lost his record, and the same thing with her niece. And with these two `free` (because it took 0 efforts to find these two specifically) we reached our number of 8 people with a baptism date for the month of March. 

This week we are also attacked by two ducks.  That was not as cool experience as it sounds.  A few weeks ago we were walking and a bull acted like he was about to charge us so we almost ran up the street.  We have also had a donkey laugh at us, kind of.

Obispo (Bishop) Morocho

From the Imbabura Ward in Otavalo

Elder Draper

Happy Leap Day!

(February 29, 2016)

Firstly I want to wish all of you a happy leap day!  I can't remember if it actually means something there in the states, but here it doesn't mean anything.  Or at least as a missionary it doesn't mean anything for us.  Just another day in the field working!

This week I ponderized a verse that is found in 3 Nephi 5:13.  This verse is the perfect description of what a missionary should be.  But not only missionaries, as well those members of the Church should follow this particular verse. 

This week, not a whole has happened. For the month of February, as a mission, we have made some sacrifices for the month that we can see miracles specifically for the month of March. We have been working with some investigators that have been attending church and progressing very well. We are still working with "B"and "C", and this week we found a family, the "A" Family.  They each have a goals for baptism for the month of March and we are hoping to see them enter the waters of baptism during this month.

 we found this chicken at a members house. it walks like a penguin. 

Elder Draper.

ELDER HOLLAND!!!!

February 22, 2016

This week we had the opportunity to receive Elder Holland of the quorum of the 12 Apostles. The members here had a special devotional with him. We were able to go to this event because we were bringing people to the meeting.

As a mission we received Elder Holland in Quito!  We all had the opportunity to be interviewed by an Apostle. WE shook his hand!  He told us that when he shakes our hand he interviews us, and that he could see our souls!  

It was such an awesome opportunity to get to know Elder Holland.  During the same meetings, we had opportunities to hear from other 70s.  We heard from Elder Calderón, he is an area 70 from Quito. We also heard from Elder Hugo Montoya, he is a counselor in our area presidency.  He is from Mexico.  

This week I ponderized a verse in Alma 48:17.  It talks about if every person was like unto Moroni, the power of Hell would not have power over the children of men. How can we be like unot Captain Moroni?  We must have similar characteristics. We can find these by reading in the Book of Mormon. 

Elder Nielson and I are still working with some investigators. We are working Blanca and Cristian, they are progressing well.  We are also seeing many miracles here in our sector. We are hoping to have a month of March.  This month of February we have been focusing a lot on the Faith, and are hoping to see the fruits of our faith in the coming month.

Kayakaman!! Well, this means goodbye in the native language.
Elder Draper.

ELDER HOLLAND IS IN ECUADOR!!!!!

(February 17, 2016)

Elder Jeffrey R, Holland is in Ecuador if you could not tell from the first line. All the bishops and stake presidents in Ecuador had a meeting with him Saturday night.  Tuesday night he will be here in OTAVALO!!!!!! We are allowed to go if we bring investigators, less actives, or recent converts.  So you know darn well we are taking people to that meeting.  

Wednesday in Quito, the entire mission, we get our own personal devotion where we are going to be edified.  

This past week we had a meeting with President Richardson.  It was the meeting we have every three months when we all get interviewed to make sure we all doing good in the mission. 

This week I ponderized, or better said I tried to ponderize Mosiah 11:23.  This week was not very productive because on Tuesday, we were drenched by Carnival.  We were out of our house for 45 minutes and were drenched by 25 buckets of water.  And not was I a victim but my agenda as well.

Saturday we had a pretty eventful day. We were charged at by a bull, don't worry we are still alive and unharmed. Later rejected by a Donkey.  Yeah that lowered our self-esteem a little.  We were walking away from a door after being rejected and teh donkey started yelling at us.  

We have a couple of investigators that are progressing pretty good.  "B" and "C". The two have been attending church and are looking for testimonies.  We are hoping that they can find their testimonies and be strong members as they come al Evangelio de Jesucristo. 

Choa

Elder Draper.