January 22, 2018

Hey Mom!

Aye!  It be a bit chilly up here in Norfolk!  Haha!  It’s alright though, it’s all good fun and I have a really great coat keeping me warm!

Thank you so much for the amazing support and love!  I can feel it and it bears me up when times get tough.  I am forever grateful that my family prays for me.  I know I need the blessings, and it brings me courage to think of you all kneeling and praying for me to find those that are prepared.  Thank you so much Mom!  

Wow!  I sure hope you and Dad have been married longer than I have been alive!  Law of Chastity and everything!  I am super happy to hear that you had a fun getaway.  You too lovebirds seem more in love now than I have ever seen before.  That brings joy to my soul!  

Well mom, it’s been a pretty tough week for me too.  There has just been tons of crazy things come up.  Some administrative work, some ministration opportunities, but all in all, Elder McMurray and I haven’t had very much time in our area this week.  And it broke my heart when earlier today, our friend Shail who was progressing SO well texted us letting us know he wasn’t going to be baptised.  It hurts so bad when you come to really love these people.  It was just a few hours ago and I just can’t stop thinking about him.  My mind just fill with things I could have done better or taught simpler.  It hurts.  I hope that we can meet with him again and resolve his concerns.  If you are going to pray for anyone please pray for him!  Also, someone I taught is going through a hard time.  Michael Preston.  He is an absolute legend, but he is going through a tough time.  

I hope I don’t make it sound like I’m struggling.  I’m not.  I love this work with all of my heart and I find great joy every day.  This week was just especially tough.  I’ll be better for it though!  Opposition in all things right!  Grow and become better!  That’s what it’s all about!  

On the up-side, our Zone has 2 Baptisms this weekend!  We had to go on a road trip to Thetford twice to make it happen, but HEY!  It all worked out in the end!  

I really am so grateful for you Mom.  Thank you for your wonderful emails and for all of your love.  I would not be who I am today without you.  You rock!  

Have the absolute best week!  Good luck with your school!  You are the best!  You are going to absolutely kill the last semester!  I admire your love of learning!  I guess I get it from you!  I have developed an unquenchable thirst for learning!  

Love,

Elder Draper

(Your favourite missionary)

Letter to Zhaun:

Wow!  

I wasn’t here when brother Hacking came.  I would remember him for sure.  

That’s so cool though!  Who was it that is serving the temple mission in Norwich?  I’m sure I know them.  It’s not that huge of a ward. (Yet ;)

Oh... thanks for the clarification!  Yah, Elder Botta is a great man.  I love him a lot.  He sent me a video and he just was amazing day at you all.  He really liked you Dad!  (No surprise there’s). Haha, it was great to see my Father and my mission Dad (trainer) together!  Awesome!  Yah, he did ask me to be his best man... crazy huh?  That’s a pretty huge honour.  I don’t know how to be a best man.

The companion is great!  Elder McMurray from a small town outside Vegas.  He is a brainiac.  Super bright Elder.  He can really analyse and see things well.  I have a lot to learn from him for sure.  We are not a lot alike.  We aren’t instant friends or anything, but I’m sure that we will become best of friends.  It just has been sort of awkward trying to get used to each Others!  Haha!  He is 1 transfer older than me on my mission, but I have been a Zone Leader for longer than him, so it’s sort of a Give take.  I have no idea who is the senior companion.  Haha.  Infortunately I failed my driving test again!  I’m so sad about that!  The good thing is that I’m getting more and more confident at driving on these roads.  I’ll get it next time for sure.  

Transfers went well!  It was great to see some fresh faces come into the Zone and bring that faith of being in a new area!  It really boosted our Zone.  Plus, we had 2 Baptisms this last weekend!  Woooohoooo!  One more for next weekend too!  Great things are happening!  

We go Contacting at the University of East Anglia (UEA). They filmed part of Avengers: Age of Ultron there!  Pretty cool.  We teach lots of foreign students who go there.  There is not enough YSA to have a ward, but there is a group that do activities like FHE.  

Wow.  Getting pretty seasoned in your spot in Ward Council huh?  I got to get to attend a Stake Council Meeting this week!  It was awesome!  It felt a lot like the Mission Leadership Council!  I love how the Lord leads his church through councils!  Speaking of leadership!  What a great new prophet we have!  What do you think of President Nelson?  

Yah, we were just waiting.  (Transfers pDays are usually pretty lackluster). Hopefully in the coming weeks we will step up our PDay game. I have to admit, I am not the best at PDays.  Do you have any memorable PDays?

Wow.  I have learned quite a bit since I have been a Zone Leader.  I have learned loads about who I am.  How to look out for those little opportunities to serve or uplift.  To not get caught up in the 'thick of thin things'.  To have a focus and address weaknesses.  How to evaluate and address needs.  How to more effectively set goals and make plans.  How to love people who are hard to love, and how to learn from the people you Lead!  Have you learned a lot about yourself as the EQ President?  I think I need to have that Difitness of Purpose again.  My focus needs to be more... focused.  I think this week I have been pretty stressed and pretty spread thin.  I emailed Mom about a bit of what’s going on there.  You can read all about it there.  Sometimes being a ZL is pretty tough.  It’s worth it in the end!  I certainly saw amazing opportunities to forget myself and serve those around me!  I see tender mercies all of the time!  

Well, I sure love you Dad!  I am so grateful for you!  You are an amazing example!  Keep being great! 

Love,

Elder Draper

January 15, 2018

Hey Mom!

Transfers are here and I am staying in Norwich! This was a great week to end off the transfer with a bang!  So many great things are going on!  I have absolutely loved serving with Elder Leone.  I have learned SO MUCH from being with him.  He is an amazing missionary and he is going to do absolutely amazing things in Canterbury.  

Another highlight continues to be Shail!  He amazes me every time we meet with him. He is progressing so well.  Even just tonight, he postponed all of his work to come to Family Home Evening and to say goodbye to Elder Leone!  I have never seen that level of commitment from someone so new to the gospel.  Talk about teaching repentance and baptising converts!  In one lesson we had, we were talking about the principle of repentance and he had a lot of questions about guilt.  We then turned to Alma 36:18-20 and he exclaimed “That is me!”  After finishing the passage, he looked up at us and said with a hint of wonder “this book answers all my questions.”  My testimony of the Book of Mormon grew, and he realised that the Book of Mormons truly does answer questions of the Soul.  I know the Book of Mormon is true!

This Book of Mormon Reading has been great!  I love that many times the result is not immediate.  Sometimes the fulfilment of the blessing happens many verses, or even chapters later!  I know that it takes real consistency when it comes to obedience and diligence.  Then, as surely as we live, the Lord will make good on His promises!  We just have to be steady on our part!  Trusting that they will come in His time.

I’m looking forward to this new transfer!  I’m excited to serve with Elder McMurray and to learn from him!  He is so bright!  I can’t wait to see what these next 6 weeks hold in store!  

WHAT??

Haha!  That made my whole day!  Elder Botta was in our house??  WOW!  I can’t even imagine the stores he told you about when we were together!  My mind is totally and completely blown. I love that man a ton!  Do you have any pictures with him?  It would be my real dad and my mission dad together!  Ha!  Two heroes, one place!  That’s amazing.  

That’s good to hear that Kendall is doing well!  German sounds like a hard language!  I just know how to say greetings in about 10 different languages.  That’s great to hear that JD is such an athletic genius!  

So, my driving test is going to be this coming Wednesday.  I went out driving with a member... I feel a lot better now, but I wish I could practice more.  Oh well.  I will pray really hard.  

It is actually not too cold!  Surprisingly.  It rains a lot, and I guess when the wind comes off the North Sea it is pretty chilly, but to answer another of your questions, I got a nice coat on Boxing Day!  It is keeping me alive for sure!  

Today is transfer PDay, and The news is that I am staying in Norwich, and by beloved companion is leaving me to go to Canterbury.  The Zone is doing great.  We should hit our goal for this month of baptising 3 people as a Zone.  I’m learning a lot, but I know that I have so many things to learn from and improve!  It’s not even funny.  I could use some advice about leadership.  You are a great leader.  Something that I learned that could help you... hmmm, tough one.  I don’t know.  I guess ministering one by one is so important.  It really is about the little things.  Being there for the people you lead.  Helping them feel the saviours love.  A talk called "and these shall I make my Leaders" by James E Faust.  It helped me quite a bit.  Also being humble and teachable.  But I’m sure you are already a master at these things 

Well, I sure love you!  

Thanks for writing me!  Hope you have an amazing week!  

This is Shail at FHE!  

Don't watch. This video breaks my heart!

January 8, 2018

Hello dearest Mother!  

Before we get serious... thank you for that ham!  All I needed were some green eggs and it was the best day of my life.  Haha!  

I guess time flies quicker than you think... I’m so blown away by how fast time goes on the mission.  Seriously.  Did you ever experience that?  Just being blown away by just how fast it goes?  I just don’t want it to end. Good thing there’s still plenty of time!  Haha!  

The highlight this week was definitely meeting our friend from India Shail!  We were finding at the university (the students are back!) when we met him.  We had a great conversation with him on the street and were blown away by his humility.  When we were in the first lesson, he explained how he knew that when he came to the UK, he wanted to get baptised, but didn’t know how... we explained that could probably help him with that.  He then came to church and told us that he had never felt like that in a church before.  That the vibes were so good.  Then he asked us when he could "register" to be baptised.  He is on Date for the 10th of February!  

Then we got to go on an exchange for us with the assistants!  It is always amazing to be in London.  South Kensington really feels like a home away from home at this point.  I was able to go with Elder Sharp.  I admire him so much!  He is my "older brother" because we were both trained by Elder Botta.  He is just so diligent.  We saw the Lords hand several times throughout the day and were amazing by the way we saw so many tender mercies.  Teaching Chang and putting him on Date was among the highlights of the day.  I learn a lot every time I go on exchange, and His was no exception.  I’m excited to apply the things I learned from Elder Sharp!  

I am learning and growing a bunch!  I sure love it here in Jolly Ol England.  Norwich is such a great city!  I know that this work is true!  I’m so grateful to be here sharing the gospel and learning the language of the Spirit.  I’m so grateful for President Monson and all he did to follow Jesus Christ.  What a great example!  Christ is at the Helm.  It will all work out.  

I regret to let you know that I actually failed the driving test...  I just haven’t driven in so long!  I had literally 0 preparation, so I guess that I reaped what I sowed.  It’s alright.  A member is going to take me driving to help me practice and I’m taking the test again next week!  I’ll pass next time!  

I love this companionship.  Elder Leone is such an amazing missionary!  We get a lot done and have so much fun together!  Where is Dylan going?  How are the missionaries in the ward doing?  How is Bishop Hepworth?  You should bug that guy to email me!  

Love you so much!  Have a fantastic week!  

New Years Goals Jan 1, 2018

Hey Mom!

So, I much apologize in advance... I don’t have much time to email today... good thing the skype is still bright in my memory and seeing all of your beaming faces is still fresh in my memory.  You all truly are a sight to behold!  We have such an amazing family!  Thank you for spending part of Christmas Day with me!

Wow!  Looks like you had an amazing New Years!  That picture of you all at the temple is amazing!  Sydney's turtle looks really cool.  JD's voice is super deep!  I’m sure you’ll be taller and stronger than me before we see each other again!  

Maddie!  I’m so happy to hear about all of your friends!  I have been praying my guts out for you to get amazing friends and to hear that you have so many good friends just makes me smile from ear to ear!  

Dad... I cannot believe that 2017 is over!  It went by in the blink of an eye!  My goodness.  I just want to make every single second of the time I have in England count!  I seriously am blown away by how quick time goes.  At this time it’s great too make goals and plans to become better.  I like Maddie’s goal!  (her goal was to read the Book of Mormon everyday). There is a bright future ahead!  

Mom!  I miss you spinach artichoke dip and your unmatched love!  I hope you all have an amazing week and that your goals and plans are successful!  

I love you all so much!  It was so great to see you all! 

Have an amazing week!

Elder Draper

Ps, I got the ham!  Pics below! (we sent him another ham)

Big Ben is under construction.

CHRISTMAS 2017

We got to Skype Zhaun-Paul this Christmas. It was so good to see him and speak with him. He is doing well, and he loves being a missionary!

Merry Christmas!

What a time of year!  I love the focus people have on looking outward and towards the Saviour this time of year.  I’m so grateful for His life, example, and Atonement.  I just finished the Book of Mormon.  In Moroni 10:32 we get a powerful invitation from Moroni to come unto Christ and be perfected in him.  I know that as we draw closer to the Saviour, he will draw closer to us.  Day by day.  Choice by choice.  Until we become like him.  I’m so grateful for the knowledge we have and for the price ledge we have to share it with others.  I know that we can become better.  We can change and we can do it quickly through Jesus Christ.  He lives!  How great is that!??

Hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas!

Let’s all make it a point to come unto Christ this coming year!

All the best,

Elder Draper