HEY MOM I WENT TO THE ZOO

Familia & Amigos,

Yesterday I hit 5 MONTHS in the mission field! Ya. Time flies. 13 more months to go :) 

A lot of appointments fell through this week, but we made the most of it and worked our tails off to accomplish our goals! And I am developing a wonderful watch tan line :) 

We taught Kimberlin twice this week and each time just makes my heart happy. She is so eager to learn and has the kindest heart. The Elders are teaching her older two brothers and we hope that they can all get baptized on the same date first week of July! 

On our Tuesday P-day last week we decided to go him up the mall that had a Disney Store and a store called Lunch Box (basically a nerdy store with tons of Star Wars stuff). OH MY WE HAD A HAY DAY. Kids in a candy store and I got a few things for my little sis Rachel.... and for me... :) 

Lily. She is so short and makes me laugh. We had another lesson with her and SHE HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS about church organization and on the Priesthood it was WONDERFUL! 

Sister Barroso taught Bible Class this week and did wonderful! She's a talented one. 

Met an adorable family as they were out using scrub brushes/soap/water on the driveway. We returned the next day and got to know them better! Ninfa used to meet with the missionaries and then we don't quite know what happened, but wants us to keep coming back and meeting with her family :) Ninfa sure loves to talk and told us quite a few stories :) I was talking to little Alejandro who is about 5 and asked him what he likes to do. "me gusta limpiar"..... I like to clean. I looked at Ninfa and laughed at her smiling face, the kid is trained well :) The other 4 kids are equally as cute :) 

We took Elena, an 18 year old in our Branch, out on team ups this week and guess what??? The appointment canceled. So we decided to take her knocking doors and show her a different side to missionary work. Elena shared her testimony so much and the spirit was strong as she spoke. You could really tell the spirit was touching the hearts of people through her and we found 3 new investigators who we have appointments with this coming week! Elena made sure she would be coming with us this week too so she could go back and teach them with us :) 

The wife of the Chamblee Branch mission leader (Florencio) we call Mami. Because she spoils us and treats us to ChikFilA. And makes us arroz con leche all the time and it's to her cooking that I dedicate my few pounds of weight gain. 

Gladys and Ashli, who we have been teaching, canceled our appointment on Saturday due to baby Angel being sick. So sad :( Sunday after checking in on them to see how Angel was, Gladys said she would appreciate having the Elders come by and give Angel a priesthood blessing. So the Elders dropped by and the sweet happiness that was in the room as the blessing was given was wonderful. And Amilcar, who is an inactive member, and the dad, was there too!! He was so happy that we came and are meeting with his wife and daughter. Hopefully as Ashli and Gladys progress, Amilcar will start coming back to church too. Hermana Barroso and I have now been adopted by them too. Gladys made us orange/apple shakes and Ashli was like, "MOM? I don't get one?" (Hers was just in the kitchen still) (no worries, she still got one) We laughed and said we were her new favorites, then shouted into the kitchen, "Somos adoptadas???" "SII!!!" So we have been adopted by our wonderful investigators :) Oh plus, it's only when we come over that Angel gets all jibber jabbery and giggly to the extreme. Cutest lil munchkin. And he is feeling better :) 

I found FFA stickers in Hobby Lobby and had to take a picture with them. #ForeverBlue 

WE WENT TO THE ZOO!! And guess what???? IT WAS FREE!! Cuz the good ole library has this thing where if you check out this weird movie about the zoo and then return it you get 4 tickets. So we checked out this movie. Didn't watch it. And turned it back in. AND GOT 4 TICKETS TO THE ZOO!!!! So us and the English sisters that cover Dunwoody Ward went to the zoo. It was a little cloudy and only sprinkled twice. Other than that it was cool and we were so grateful we weren't melting in the heat. PEEPS THERE WERE TWO BABY PANDAS. And I got a shirt that has a line of pandas walking across a street that is supposed to be like the Beatles and when they were walking across the road. It's marvelous. 

Our Heavenly Father has a beautiful plan for each of us. I am continually blown away by how intricate it is and how unique it is to every person. He loves us and want us to grow, He wants us to learn. He is a God of perfect love, mercy, and high expectations. We show our love to Him as we obey His commandments and do our best to do what we know to be true. It can be hard, but anything worthwhile doesn't come easy. And He never promised us it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. Remember your "why's". Christ was nailed to a cross and atoned for the sins of the world FOR US. He paid a debt He didn't owe, because we owed a debt we could't pay. We were His "why". 

I hope and pray you are each doing well. It's summer time, so drink water and get an extra swim in the pool for me! 

Con Amor, 

Hermana Draper