England London South Mission Closing!

Hey Dad!

Thank you so much for the email on Valentine’s Day.  That really meant a lot.  It’s the little things that make all the difference.  

Don’t feel bad, I’m the one who is proper rubbish at writing emails.  There are always things that seem to spring up on me on PDays.  It’s so stressful!  They are the hardest days of the week, haha.  

Today has been especially crazy because the Dereham area is going from a Sisters area to an Elders area and the Norwich 3 Elders Area is being closed.  There’s lots of moving around that needs to be done there... we spent all morning helping people move luggage and things from Dereham to Norwich and Norwich to Dereham!  Haha.  Oh, forgot to say that Elder McMurray and I are staying together another transfer here in Norwich.  I’m so excited to be here for another transfer!  I have really come to love this great city and this amazing Zone.  Plus, our area is really picking up steam!  We are seeing the blessings from being obedient and diligent.  Which is an amazing thing to see.  

Something kind of crazy that is going in is the England London South Mission is being CLOSED.  We are absorbing 6 Zones into our mission and losing 2 Zones to the Birmingham and Leeds Missions.  So, Norwich as of July 1st will be a part of the England Leeds Mission... crazy.  I probably won’t be here when that happens, but it is still crazy news, and it’s crucial to keep missionaries motivated to work hard especially as we get closer to July.  

That is the same time that President and Sister Stevens will go home... I love them so much.  They have helped me in countless ways find out who I am and what I can become.  They lead this mission with love and inspiration.  It’s sad to think they will go before me.  I won’t get a departing interview with them... which is sad.  It’s okay, I’ll live.  Did you have more than one mission president on your mission?  Did anything like boundary changes happen while you were in Norway?  It’s still the work of the Lord.  Just funny to think that if I’m serving in the Northampton Zone or Norwich Zone come July, I will be reassigned to serve in another mission.  Crazy.  

Now on to some amazing news!  The area President (President Paul V Johnson) is doing a mission tour next week.  Which is pretty cool, but what is even cooler, is that he is coming to MLC (Mission Leadership Council) the day before to address us as leaders... how cool is that?? Being on such an intimate level with a General Authority.  Plus we get to stay in London for like 3 days in a row when that happens.  

BUT, that is not even the most exciting news!  You may have heard that Elder Holland and President Russel M. Nelson are going to visit parts of Europe and Asia... and we just heard this morning that they will be addressing the England London Mission at the Hyde Park Chapel!  Wow!  The prophet and Elder Holland together!  What an experience!  We truly are being blessed as we have decided to focus on obedience as a mission.  

Speaking of that, for only the second time of my mission, we exceeded our goal for Baptisms in a month.  Our goal as a mission was 30, and we baptised 32!  It truly is amazing!  Norwich contributed big time to that:) We are being so blessed, and I know that it is because the Lord is so involved I’m this work.  He goes before us, and helps us in every stage of this work.  I love being a missionary (especially in the England London Mission). 

It makes my heart leap with joy to see you being great missionaries as well!  How were the Elders that came?  I hope they are good.  I hope they work hard.  Haha, I look at missionaries different now haha!  

How are you doing Dad?  I love the advice you send in your emails.  You must have been an amazing missionary!  I’m grateful for your great example!  Sure love ya!

I’m so glad to hear about your great experience in Leadership training as well.  Isn’t it amazing how the work progresses?  I love it.  I know that this is the Lords church.  My testimony has grown in leaps and bounds even just this last week.  We got to watch the Prophet if the Restoration with an investigator, and during the film I just felt in my heart so powerfully that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.  

I love being a missionary!  

Love you!

Elder Draper

Hey Mom!  

Wow!  You are missionary legends!  

Maddie seems to be very into this boy... don’t know how I feel about that haha! I’m glad that she seems to be having fun and enjoying her high school experience!  

I sent some crazy info in my letter to Dad, so refer to his email for mind blowing information.  

This week has been super great.  It transfers week, but we are staying together here in Norwich!  Woohoo!  Great things are happening in our area and it is such a great time to be serving the Lord.  

This week we actually got many opportunities to serve others. Especially members of the Ward. We were able to help a member strip wallpaper from their new house (that needs tons of work). We got to help an elderly widow move her new bed in!  Then she fed us with fish and chips!  It was amazing!  

We didn’t know if I would stay or go for transfers, so I got some pictures with some of my favourite members but it’s okay!  I am staying here!  Haha!

I hope that all keeps going well with your School!  I pray for you all the time.  It sounds like you are doing a really, really, good job of staying busy!  I love the vision that you have!  I can’t wait to go and get a massage at the storefront!  Woohoo!  

Mom, you really are the best.  I hope you know that.  Time and time again I am reminded at how much you have helped me feel loved and valued.  I never had to doubt if someone was there for me because you always were.  I’m glad that you are busy with such good things.  Be careful to not rush right through it all.  Enjoy this time.  Savour it.  Make memories and laugh lots!  

You are being led, and I love that you recognise that!  I want to be led by revelation.  I totally want my best friend to be the Saviour!  I know that He lives!   

Well, that’s all, I am loving every minute of this wonderful experience! 

Love you!  

Elder Draper

February 18, 2018

Wow!  That Snow just looked fantastic!   

I am doing great!  Stessed and exhausted, but happier than I’ve ever been before!  

I love this work with all my heart.  Dad sent me a pretty motivating email.  I want to sprint through the finish, and have absolutely nothing left in the tank.  I want to look back at never wasting a moment!  I love this mission.  I love my Saviour, and I love my family so much.

Tell Maddie to be careful with those boys!  

Tell JD I love him and am praying for his goals!

Tell Sydney I’m praying for her and for Shelly!  

Tell Mom that she is an angel!  I can’t wait to apply your advice!  You are seriously the best!  You are always in my prayers!  

Love you with all my heart!  

Elder Draper

February 12, 2018

Wow!  

Mom, I love your mission stories so much!  

That is a crazy story!  There are always things that come up right before a baptism!  That is when I have seen so much opposition with the people I am teaching.  That is so cool that the mission president baptised her as well!  It sounds like you had a great first baptism!  Are you still in touch with any of the people you taught on your mission?  Wow.  I’ve had some hectic pre-baptism experiences, but nothing that comes close to that one.  

It sounds like Work is going good!  I’m so glad that you had that amazing experience with prayer as well!  I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers every prayer.  I want to be better at praying.  Often times I am so tired at the end of the day that I fall asleep while I’m praying.  Then apologise and try to do better the next day...  haha.  Do you have any tips for sincere prayers?

I am loving every second of my mission.  We had a really cool chance to go to a YSA birthday party with the ward.  Which was loads of fun!  We were playing all sorts of games when I slipped (my running shoes (same ones I came out with and have NO grip)) and scissored the stage!  It was crazy!  I’ll send you a video below.  (I am fine by the way just a bruise). 

We I also got to go on two exchanges this week, one where Elder Henrie (from Canada) came to our area, and an exchange with Elder Sharp (for an AP exchange). It was amazing!  We got to go down to London for the day and I really love Elder Sharp.  He was also trained by Elder Botta, so we have great stores and lots of common experience!  He is a great leader and I always learn a lot from him!  

We are teaching someone who is really solid called Davi.  He is from Norwich and battles depression a bit.  He needs to quit smoking, but he already knows the Book of Mormon is true and wants to be baptised... just has to kick that habit.  Everyone in this country smokes... even the 12 year olds.  It’s crazy.  Anyways.  Pray for Davi!  His date is for February 24.

Another thing that is pretty exciting is we are moving house!  The office Elder in charge of flats (Elder Rees who is a boss) got us a new flat, and we are moving into it with the other set of Elders serving in the ward!  Another 4 man flat!  We are moving into there on Thursday!  Should be an experience!  

Oh!  Also, my companion got sick... and I started to feel tingly in my thought and I said "NOPE NOPE NOPE" and ran upstairs to my oils stash and treated myself and guess what.  I’m not sick!  Haha!  It was great! I’m still convinced that sickness is a mindset!  There’s no time for that silly business on a mission!  

Mom, I am learning so much!  I seriously have grown a lot.  I feel I am really becoming who God wants me to be.  I love it!  It’s not always easy, but this really has been the best experience of my whole life!  I know that the gospel has been restored!  Isn’t it wonderful?  

I love you so much Mom!  Have an amazing week!  

Elder Draper

1.  Me at the Norwich Cathedral

2.  Me and Elder Sharp

3.  Skinny staircase at the cathedral

4. Me and Elder McMurray at the cathedral

5.  The Cathedral (artistic Shot)

6.  Me and Elder Umba doing a stop by 

7.  The squad going to drop some BoM's (Book of Mormon)

February 5, 2018

Hiya Mom!

Wow.  I feel really bad.  The quality of my letters home are probably pretty rubbish.  I’m sorry that you feel like you have to write me a short letter.  I really do love your letters.  Especially last week... wow.  That was an amazing experience from your Journal!  It boosted my faith and I shared it with loads of missionaries in the Zone!  So thank you again so much for doing that!  You are the best.

That cabin project sounds really fun!  Can’t wait to check it out!  Many memories yet to be had there.  

That story with Sydney and you fasting for me brought me to tears.  Thank you so much!  That was touching.  

This week I had the opportunity to go on exchange with one of the Elders in the Zone called Elder Umba.  It was really amazing.  We had one of the most amazing experiences of my mission on the way back from Lowestoft.  We took a few wrong turns getting back to Norwich Town Centre and ended up in a flat complex that looked so familiar.  I realised it was where one of our investigators (that we’ve been having a hard time contacting) lives.  And as we drove dow, we saw Danny!  The investigator!  The crazy thing was, Danny is from the DRC Congo and we just happened to have the one missionary in the Zone... (maybe even the mission) from the Congo with us!  We turned around and went over to talk to him and Elder Umba was able to speak with him in French and talk about baptism with him.  It was incredible.  Have miracles ceased?  No way.  The one time we get lost in that part of town with the one missionary from his country AND he was just standing outside... it was absolutely amazing!  We went back and taught him a great lesson the next day as well!  He is really questioning his faith and the Restored Gospel is exactly what he needs.  

We are also teaching Davi, who is progressing towards baptism on the 24th!  He is English and a really great guy!

Another good thing is that I passed my driving test!  Wooohooo!  Now I can drive in England!  These roads are WAY trickier than in the states!  Windy, dodgey, and loads of roundabouts!  

But it’s super fin to drive in this country!  

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Make sure everyone knows I love them loads!

Elder Draper

January 29, 2018

Here is a snippet from my letter to President Stevens!

Zone Conference was amazing this week! It’s always so nice to be with other missionaries! In London I seriously took for granted constantly being able to gather and see people in person. Put here in Norwich it sure is a treat when you can be all together with the Zone! The trainings were all great, and the whole Zone is so excited about being more obedient.  We know that the Lord is mindful of our efforts, and we will see miracles because of the focus on obedience. Something I really felt as we were in the chapel receiving the obedience training, was that my best a year ago isn’t my best today. We believe in eternal progression, and the standard at this point is way higher. I know that personal commandments and promptings are important to be obedient to as well. Even the smallest thing! I love the reminder to change and strive for exactness.  

The highlight for teaching this week was definitely Davi. We were supposed to see him at 2, and we knocked on the door at 2... but no answer. Called, but no answer. For the first time on my mission, I felt prompted to go around to the back of the flat and bang on the windows! I thought "that can’t be right." But the thought came again and we did. We tracked around to the back and gave some brisk knocks. Still nothing. We called him again after all of this and in a groggy voice answered "Give me just a few minutes, I was dead asleep" or something like that! It was amazing! We were then able to have a spiritual lesson with him where HE put HIMSELF on Date to be baptised! He mentioned how he felt the Lord helping him prepare for this commitment in many different ways. It was such a testimony builder that the Lord really is preparing the hearts of his children. We were even able to give him a blessing. I am so grateful for the priesthood being restored to the Earth through Joseph Smith. When we were giving the blessing, towards the end I was was just listening to the words that were coming out of my mouth. It was an amazing experience. 

I love this work!  

Here are some pictures!  

Love you! 

Elder Draper!