This week individual days were boring so I will share a stories,
with names changed for the protection of their Identity, and call out to
all people to rethink their past thoughts and notions about The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons.
Tuesday Elder Kummerman and I were doing service in New
Beginnings, a local thrift store that donates money to some charities. We were up on the second floor trying to get all the donations that we
had hauled up looking nicer and organized, and put things to a less
cluttered state. Well some customers were coming up and there were some
white men (I say that as generally I have only seen Hispanic men at that
time of the day). I began a simple conversation with them and asking
where they worked in Crete. They were not from Crete, they said they
were staying at a cabin not to far away though. We chatted and they
asked if I worked there. I said, "I do not, I am just volunteering." The man who asked, I will call him John Doe, got an uncomfortable look
on his face. I then left it at that. deciding not to purse "religious talk"
with him unless he brought it up. Then I asked him, since he wasn't from Crete, what he did for a living. John told me he was an artist and that
he painted and taught, and kind of did everything. He went downstairs
and then came back up. I asked his name and if his artwork was
online, and how I could look it up. John seemed to get very uncomfortable
and came and pulled out his phone. He was about to show me his artwork and then he said, "You know I will humor you but I know what you
are really trying to do. I can see an ulterior motive from a mile away in
any person. You are no better than a used cars salesman." Now that
isn't the most exact quote but he did say all those things. I was
very taken back and I didn't know what I was to do. I tried saying I
don't have an ulterior motive, but he kept raising his voice and getting
and closer to my face, The anger the venom of his words struck me and I
was not willing to back down when I knew I wasn't wrong. Elder Kummerman
stepped in and told him, with force but calmness, that he was acting out
and we are genuine and that he, or I, only wanted to see his art. he
refused to listen and he stormed out.
As you can see there was a lack of communication and what
was genuine was perceived to be false and fake, and a scheme to ensnare
people. I have had lots of time to reflect on what happened and what
were my own motives. I have come to the one conclusion that I can
reach: we are genuine, there is nothing but sincerity that makes this
work go forward.
If this work were about numbers more missionaries would be
baptizing and those that wouldn't progress quickly would be dropped. We
wouldn't be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful,
thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. We wouldn't be disciples of Christ. We
would lack charity, the pure love of Christ, and our church would fail at
its core.
Yet we are still here and trying because we care, and we care
because we are all family and we all matter. No one is a lost cause no
matter who we are, where we've been, or what we've done. If you don't
believe me get down on your knees and ask the one who knows all, and then
check out
Helives.mormon.org
Well moving on from that we had some good lessons this week. We have had people take some real sincere interest in what we have
had to share. I am so grateful, personally, that I know that I have a
loving Heavenly Father and a loving Savior who are doing everything they
can to help us live happy and fulfilling lives, and make us the best
people we can be.
Well back to the event end of things. We had some of our English members, who live just outside of Crete, come into Crete to go
visit a woman with us and to share a little bit with her. Well she
lives in government assisted housing and her neighbor, as we were waiting
for her to get back from the store, started talking to us, I will call
her Jane Doe. Well Jane told us she didn't think her neighbor was
fit enough, mentally, to make decisions and that we shouldn't be taking
advantage of her, and we are being evil and deceiving for deceiving her. We told her, simply, we are here to be her friends and to invite her
and beyond that we are not here to convince her of anything. She needs
to understand we are not here to prey on her. Well the member we
brought with us, she stood and rebuked the woman saying,"All those "mental
problems" you say your neighbor has, I have them too. And I like the
missionaries, I like the church, and I have never felt anything but secure
with them. I know this church is true and no one but God could convince
me of that."
God worked in mysterious ways. I had doubted that the
woman would have good enough health to come out with us but she did, and
to our great benefit. The lesson was a roaring, rocking success! The woman
we taught felt secure, peaceful, and happy to see us. She was reassured
by our sister. Only God could have granted her the strength necessary
to come that day. I know that this gospel is true and it is not found by
wisdom of men, but by revelation from God. I love the beauty and
simplicity of His message. I hope that I can have the strength and
power to stand up for and declare what I know to be true with boldness
not overbear. I thank you for your time in reading my letter.
Love your Son, Brother, grandson, Nephew, cousin, friend, and for the animals pillow or play buddy,
Love Logan Joseph Draper
Sincerely,
Elder Logan Joseph Draper
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