Dear Family,
1st off...I have some pretty sad
news. I was on the computer last Tuesday writing up a thing for
president and I saw an email from sister Harwood. That email said that
Duane passed away last Sunday. I do not know the whole story, but just
that he did not come to church and they were worried, and so Brother
Mathson our ward mission leader checked on him and he had passed always.
I loved Duane so much. He is one of my favorite people. I ask you to
all remember his family in your prayers. I know Duane has more to learn
in the spirit world and I feel like it is right. I had a hard time at
first. But really to think about everything, it is a miracle that I met
him. I was transferred to Bozeman right when he started letting
missionaries come, and we were able to teach him and help him return to
the gospel. He became like a grandpa to me. If I did not go to Bozeman
when I did..I would have never known him. Heavenly Father's hand is in
every minute of our lives. We always would ask Duane to pray, and for a
long time he would not, but then towards the end, he started praying
with us, but not on his own. Then I got an email from Sister Harwood
saying he prayed in church. :) That is awesome! I have been thinking a
lot about him, and he always said he would pray, and thinks about it ,
but he just wanted it to be a good and sincere prayer. I wonder if he
got that prayer in. I feel like he probably did :) I feel like Duane
finally was able to talk to our Heavenly Father openly and sincerely,
and that he felt loved. I really feel like he was able to do that before
he passed. I am so grateful that I knew Duane. It is hard to know I
won't be able to see him in this life again, but at least I can talk to
him, I am excited to one day get to the spirit world and see Duane. I
know he is learning and growing so much. It will be great to see even
more change in him. :)
Well besides that my
week has been great :) We had Christmas Zone Conference, and that was
awesome. I was able to see Sister Barkdull for a minute, and Then I
spent lunch with Sister Austin. Oh my goodness she is just awesome! I
love her. We just had so much fun catching up and then the Bakers were
also there so we all got a picture together. All of us once again
together :) I cried a lot during Zone conference...it was hard because
it was so amazing. I NEVER want it to end. I got your letter mom :)
thanks. At the end I shook president hand and all he said was "I will be
interviewing you on Saturday,
though I really don't want to" Yep then I lost it and started bawling.
haha Then I looked over at sister Mecham and she burst into tears and
just gave me the biggest hug and said "You have come so far" that one
sentence....18 months of learning ,more like a life time. I love the
Mechams so much. They have blessed and helped change my life forever.
After shaking their hands I went over to Elder Bishop, one of the
assistants and he just starts telling me about the dessert table and how
I need some dessert because it will make me happy. So I walk past it on
my way out but I did not grab anything cause I didn't want it, and he
saw that and just started yelling, "IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY!"
bahahahaha. So that helped for like 2 seconds, until I saw Sister
Austin. WE just gave each other huge hugs and stood there. Oh I love
her. We went through a lot being doubled into Riverton together and so
we are so close.
The car ride home was good.
When we got home we only had like 2 hours left of proselyting time so we
went to work of course! Which was great!
Ron
is doing so well. We taught him the plan of salvation and loved it. He
was not able to come to the Christmas part of stake conference cause he
was in so much pain, poor guy. We brought him cake from the party and he
loved it...he better have because I spilled apple pie all over my
skirt...twice! to get him that, bahahahaha. Yesterday though toward the
end of the day he was feeling a little better, not the best, but he is
awesome and so he came to the Christmas devotional, he loved it! He is
doing so well. I just love Ron! I will get a picture with him this
week.
I had my departing interview on Saturday,
because there are so many missionaries going home, he had to spread
them out last week instead of just when we get to the mission home. I
asked for a blessing while in my departing interview and I am so
grateful I got that. It was a very powerful blessing. That is all I am
going to say cause I don't want to focus on that bahaha. However I will
say I am so grateful President Mecham was and is my mission president.
He has helped me so much throughout my mission, and taught me so much!
When we had Mission tour earlier this year. Elder Godoy who came, told
us that we should pray to have the right mission president for our
children and our selves, not the right area, because the mission
president is just that vital. And I know it is. I could not have had a
different mission president. President Mecham needed to be mine.
I am so grateful for my mission. I will always be remembering
it, and eventually I will be serving another with my husband :) That
will be wonderful. I am so happy I served here in Montana, I know it
will help me be a better missionary when I am home. The Montana Billings
Mission is the best mission in the World. I love it with all my heart. I
love the people with my whole soul. Like I have been saying, Heavenly
Father is in every second of our lives and has a plan for each of us,
and that is one of the most important things I have learned!
Oh guess what!!!! Remember in Bozeman when I was teaching Zack, but he actually lived in Billings :) Well he got baptized on Saturday!
I am so happy for him! He wrote me on Facebook and told me how excited
he was to be baptized and told me he will send pictures :) I am so happy
for him and his wife, and then in year they will be sealed for time
and eternity :)
Well I love all of you so much!
You all have blessed me so much and I just love you :) Have a great week
:)...see ya soon...
Love SISTER Draudt
No comments:
Post a Comment