Drew Mail 7-20-19 "The power of prayer is real people!"

One week down! I still can’t believe that! It has been such an amazing experience already, and I can’t wait to see how it gets better! Okay, so in my time here I have been amazed time and time again by the blessings the Lord has given to me. I have seen so many times that He will answer our prayers as we have faith in Him and then act. I want to share a few of the experiences I have had which have helped me gain this testimony. So first, during our Sunday devotional, the opening hymn we sang was “Sweet Hour of Prayer”. Now this was the first hymn I learned to play on the piano, and as we started to sing I was overwhelmed by feelings of love, and I felt that Heavenly Father had been hearing my prayers, He knew what I was experiencing, and wanted me to know that He loves and knows me. What a blessing this was, and it turns out that prayer has been a central part of my week! 

So the next thing I want to share is an activity we have done twice in our class. Our teacher has taken a “character” and we have had to get to know them and teach them a small lesson in Spanish. Now when I first found out we were doing this, I was really nervous. I practiced with Elder Howe, and quickly realized that it is really difficult to answer questions and speak entirely in Spanish. So before we went to meet with “Antonio,” who was really brother Dixon, I said a quick prayer, and just decided to do my best. It went really well actually, and I was able to ask questions to Antonio and get to know him, then testify towards the end! During the lesson I really felt a lot of love for Antonio, and I’m excited to feel that when I’m out in the field. So we did this activity a second time, this time with “Isaac” and again, I saw answers to prayer. As I just tried to focus on what his needs were and to see him as Heavenly Father did, words came into my mind that I should say. I am so grateful for these blessings which I have seen as I have put my faith in God, and prayed to Him. I have also been praying to see the blessings I have been given be fulfilled, and one being: when I was set apart as a missionary I was blessed to be anxiously engaged to study the Book of Mormon. I have had this desire to study it grow within me, and honestly there is no other word to describe this eagerness than an anxious engagement. Another answer to prayer has been my increased ability to learn. It is amazing to me the amount of phrases and words and scriptures we have had to memorize, and just as I have felt like I can’t do any more I have found help and ability beyond my own. The last answer to prayer I have had was really one which was incredible to me. About halfway through the day on Thursday, I noticed that the handkerchief my dad had given me, when I said goodbye to my family at the airport, was gone. I could not figure out where it was, and I didn’t have much time to look so throughout the rest of the day I just kept praying that I would find it. When we got back to our residency that night, I decided I’d better pray one more time. As soon as I stood up from my prayer I had the thought “look in your suitcase.”  At first I was like no, there’s no way it’s in there, but then I decided I might as well check. Sure enough when I opened my suitcase, there it was, sitting on top of everything else. I know prayers are answered. I know anyone can ask Heavenly Father, and He will answer. He loves and knows each one of us perfectly and will always be there for us. 

Dios siempre eschuca nuestras oraciones.  (God always hears our prayers)

-Elder McDonald

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 16:29

Quote of the week: “Dad, I want you to know I did my best”

(Drew's pics didn't make email this week but will post when they arrive!)  

*We did get to Skype with him today - what a treat! He's doing great!