ELDER PERRY CONFERENCE

Scott with Elder Gudjenov

ELDER PERRY CONFERENCE

20 August 2011

Hello,

Well this week was awesome, busy but awesome. It is never a dull day in the mission field. There is something that you can learn from everyday. We had so many cool things happen but I only have a few minutes to write them and share some of the miracles and tender mercies we saw this week.

The biggest thing that happened this week was that Elder L. Tom Perry came and visited our mission. He is doing a tour of the whole northwest area. He is visiting the missionaries and then doing a meeting with the leaders in the wards. So on Wednesday afternoon we got to be in a two hour meeting with him. We also got to shake his hand. Elder L. Whitney Clayton, one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, was there also. He started the meeting off and talked to us for about twenty minutes on relying more heavily on the Book of Mormon. We need to teach everyone about it, use it in our finding, read it with people, get people to pray about it and use it how God intends it to be used. It is the proof and convincing evidence that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored upon the earth once more and that Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet in these later days. Elder Clayton also brought President and Sister Greer up on the stand and had us list of things that we liked about the Greer’s. After Elder Clayton, Sister Perry got up and spoke a little on obedience and how important it is in our lives. If we or those we love are affected by disobedience, it is a sure recipe for heart ache. The invitation to follow Christ is an invitation to emulate the Savior and be like Him. Then Elder Perry took the remainder of the meeting and spoke to us. It felt like the time just flew by but it was some amazing council. He started off by talking about being enthusiastic about the things that we do. An enthusiastic person can never be unhappy or dull. Every day is a blessing and we need to make to most of it. Elder Perry talked about the Book of Mormon as well. He told us that the Book of Mormon is going to places it has never gone and at an incredible rate. It is our job as members of the Church to know what is in it so we can share it with others. He gave us a couple tips for becoming better missionaries. First he said to look at the people for who they really are and teach to their needs. If we have the right spirit we will be able to analyze the people, break down barriers, make a good impression and in turn accomplish the work we are called to do. He also said that before we can help others understand the Gospel we need to find common ground upon which we can build on. The other council he gave us was to embrace the power that comes in our companionships. The gospel goes forth two by two for a reason. There is so much power that can come from a companionship that is unified and on the same page. He said "make your companionship so strong it will bless both of you". It was an amazing meeting. Not only just to be in the presence of a General Authority but to be able to hear him speak specifically to us as missionaries was so amazing.

This week we also had missionaries that were departing. There was a group of them that had to go home a few weeks early for school. Elder Garrick was part of that group so now it is just Elder Gudjenov and me. We are doing well together.

I love my mission and it is weird to think that the next group that leaves the Washington Kennewick Mission will be my group. That fact is only motivating me that much more. This week we had a miracle. We met this lady named Kathy Mckinney last week and she said she had taken the lessons before and even had her baptismal interview; she just wasn't ready. After that she moved and stopped meeting with the missionaries. She invited us over for dinner on Sunday night. We had a great dinner and discussion and now she is on date to be baptized on September 20. She is so ready. She has amazing questions and is eager to learn. We asked her how she felt about baptism and she just said that she doesn't feel she can follow Jesus unless she gets baptized. We have had two lessons with her so far. She has even started telling her friends that she is planning on getting baptized that day. The Lord truly does look out for his missionaries and leads us to those who are ready.

We have also found a few less actives that told us they were ready to make a change in their lives. The Blanca family is a part member family. The dad is the only member. We talked to them and they said they just moved into Pasco and are now looking for a church. They told us they would love to have us come back and see them and teach more. Things are starting to pick up in Pasco. There is still a lot of work for us to do but things are going great. The rest of our investigators are kind of at a standstill. They are taking their final summer vacations and just really busy.

Those are some of the main highlights for this week. I love everyday of this work and am excited for these coming weeks. Please remember to keep Kathy Mckinney in your prayers. This is the greatest work anybody could be involved in. I hope you have a wonderful a week. Keep replacing fear with faith and miracles will happen. I have seen them occur countless times and I know that it is by faith that miracles are brought forth. I love you and I will write next week.

Love,

Elder M Scottie Draper