Zhaun-Paul's Release Date!!!!!

We just received Zhaun-Paul's release date this week...and yes, I have a countdown going on.

September 18, 2018

July 21, 2018 - Visit from Elder Oaks

(Elder Draper is the AP in London. He was the AP while his mission president finished and went home and a new mission president came, so he helped a lot with that transition. At the same exact time the England London Mission absorbed the London South Mission, so they doubled their area boundaries and the number of missionaries. All while training a new Mission President. Our Zhaun-Paul was a key figure in all of this transition and kept things running, as his two companions got transferred and he also trained the new AP. He has never complained or even mentioned the added stress he has had, but rejoices in being able to be there through these amazing changing times. What a great missionary he has been! OH.....And guess who just happened to dropped by..... check it out...)

Hey Mom!  

I can't believe it's already P Day again!  CRAZY!!

I'm glad you enjoyed the letter.  They should all be really good.  You really deserve to get a good update on what is going on.  

Really?  I remember watching a movie right before I left (I think it was Jason Bourne, but I could be wrong) and there was a scene that took place in London and I just felt so excited to go.  Now, here I am having lived in London for almost 2 years.  It's crazy how quick the time flies.  I am so grateful for my mission.  I say that all the time, but it is true.  I am learning so much.  It's funny to see JD wearing that suit.  It looks good on him!  He does look a bit like me!  Haha!  It's a bit nerve racking to move out.  I hope Maddie does well with the big change.  When does she move out again?

You are going to do great with the Young Women's camp!  You need to tell the Stevens that I love them with all my heart!  Give them a big hug for me and tell them I will visit them when I get back!  You are going to love meeting them!  They are great!  I hope you see some of the missionaries I was able to serve around too!  Hopefully Jacob Parkin and Ralson Lindsey will be there.  I'm excited that you get to go to that!

This week was crazy and exciting.  Last Sunday, we got to see the miracle of Will being baptised.  He has come so far since he was first stopped right outside the Chapel on Exhibition road.  He is such a good man.  He was born in Berma (Myanmar) and grew up in the UK.  He is brilliant.  He codes for a living and wrote an algorithm to predict the stock market... so cool.  His conversion really began to accelerate when he commited to reading the Book of Mormon every day.  Also, a few weeks ago, he moved closer to the chapel which allowed us to see him more and for him to come to more activities, which led to making friends and he just grew in testimony so steadily.  It really was amazing to see.  Now he is looking forward to getting the Gift of the Holy Ghost tomorrow.  

Another highlight is Andrea.  She is the sister of two recent converts.  We have been teaching her for the last week and she is just amazing.  She feels the spirit so strong during lessons.  She is a bit nervous working towards baptism, but we have faith that she will overcome all of those doubts before August 5th.  Katie and Sister Checketts came to help us teach yesterday.  They were both amazing and so helpful to Andrea. It's amazing to see how she is recognizing God's love in her life.  The little things are pointing her to follow Christ and she is listening.  The Lord really is blessing our area as we are MAX busy with President Checketts.  I'm grateful that this is the Lord's work and not mine!

On Monday, we were walking in for a lesson when one of the Senior couples at the front desk told us that President Oaks was here... we then walked and looked into the cultural hall and sure enough, there was President Oaks!  Amazing!  Just a few weeks ago, Elder Holland was here and now President Oaks!  Apostles love London almost as much as me!  We quick taught our lesson and then waited around for an opportunity to present itself for us to shake President Oaks' hand.  The time came and we rushed in there (a pack of like 7 missonaries) and he was sort of on his way out when he turned to us and said "Have I had a chance to shake your hands??"  We said no, and he replied "Well lets change that!!"  He walked over and shook all of our hands and we got some LEGENDARY pictures with him!  We got a proper picture AND a selfie with him!  He was squeezing my arm so tight in both pictures!  He was also holding Elder Tolman with his other arm, and Elder Tolman is one of my mission heroes... so we were linked together by an Apostle of the Lord!  Amazing.  Perks of serving in the Hyde Park Chapel for sure.  It was so wonderful to have the chance to look in his eyes and feel that even though he is a man, he really is an Apostle.  I could feel it in the way he treated to people around him.  He took time to minister to each of us when I'm sure he had other more important things to do.  

On Tuesday, we received and trained two new missionaries.  Elder Lin and Elder Lum Ze.  Elder Lin is from Taiwan and Elder Lum Ze is from Berma.  The diversity of this mission truly astounds me!  President Checketts has really emphasised our responsibility in leading the gathering of Israel here in London.  I believe it!  There are people from EVERYWHERE!!  It's amazing to be a part of.  

We also got the chance to go south of the river to attend the Crawley Zone's interviews.  We got to sit in on the District Meetings and talk with the missionaries in the Zone and get to know them better.  It was so fun.  One of my favourite things about traveling around with the Checketts is just being able to learn from them.  They truly are remarkable people!  They have taught me so much just by their example.  Then the day after Crawley, President asked me if I would drive them down to Maidstone to do the same thing.  I had never driven the mission van befor then... and it was a bit nerve racking.  Big vans on tiny English roads are not a combination made in Heaven... Nonetheless, we made it safely and had a wonderful day with the Maidstone Zone.  I even grew to love driving "Betty" as we have come to call the van.

Then yesterday our Zone had our Interviews AND we had a 3 week training meeting to run, so we weren't able to get interviewed, but had a wonderfully hecktic day running around between Zone Meetings and Trainings!  Good times for sure.  After that crazy day, President Checketts took us out to 5 guys.  It was so fun.  

For our P Day today, we got to bike all around London.  We went shopping at Oxford Circus for Elder Aguiar who had to get some things for a wedding.  It is so fun to bike in London.  You get to weave in and out of traffic and see all the cool sights!  Don't worry mom, we were wearing helmets!

The spiritual thought for this week comes from the New Testament!  I have really come to love reading the New Testament on my mission.  I love seeing the way that our Saviour walked, talked, and treated others.  So.  The verse comes from 1 John Chapter 2 verse 6.  I love this whole chapter.  But this verse in particular.  It says "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked."  I love that!  We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  We claim that we know him and it should reflect in the way that we act.  "By THIS shall men know that ye are my disciples, that you show love one to another."  If we rely on Christ and use His Atonement, we can change our natures to become less natural and more god-like.  I'm so grateful for that!  

This really is the Lord's work!  

Love you all so much!

Elder Draper

July 14, 2018

Hey Mum!

This week was incredibly busy and crazy!

It's so good to hear that you are getting to spend some good time with the kids!  I remember bumming around all summer long... good times.  Sounds like it was just a solid week.  

Wow!  Is he really looking a lot like me?  He must be a pretty good looking kid! JD

That rodeo looks like it was a good time.  Was Mindy up to escape the brutal Arizona heat?  My companion Elder O'Hare is from Gilbert Arizona and he always explains just how hot it is down there.  Crazy.  

The Book of Mormon is amazing. It truly is a blessing.  I love studying it.  I have also been going through the Topical Guide and reading every reference to Jesus Christ in the standard works.  It has made my personal study SO spirit filled!  I will often times get choked up because of the way a certain verse or passage makes me feel.  I love the scriptures.  

I know Mom.  Time is going too fast.  COULD SOMEONE PLEASE SLOW IT DOWN JUST A BIT!!

This week was like I said... crazy.  On Tuesday I went on exchange with an Elder called Elder Gehring.  He is the first Zone Leader from the South Mission that I got the chance to go with.  It was a blast!  We had a really good day.  We taught Andrea (who is the sister of two amazing recent converts) and she told us about a time when she was sitting in Hyde Park reading the Book of Mormon and she saw loads of butterflies floating around.  So she prayed and told him that she would know the Book of Mormon was true if he just made a butterfly land on the Book of Mormon.  She waited for a bit, but it didn't happen.  So she thought "Oh well" and went home.  The next day she was in her room and she pulled the Book of Mormon out to read a few chapters.  She set it down on her bed and left for a few minutes and when she came back there was a butterfly sitting on the Book of Mormon!!!  IN HER ROOM!!  God waited to answer her prayer in a way more powerful way!  She had never seen butterflies near where where she lived before.  She really is awesome.  We also taught Will who passed his baptismal interview and is getting baptised tomorrow.  He is such a legend.  We got to eat at Franco Monca Pizza too.  Which is always great.  When we visit London, I will definitely take you all there. 

On Wednesday, we spent the whole day looking for and taking care of a missionary that ran away.  That was a hard day.

On Thursday, we went on exchange with the Crawley Zone Leaders (Also from the South mission)  It was great to get to know them better.  They are great.  I went with Elder Rosenvall and it was his first ever AP exchange, so I was honoured to go out with him.  We had loads of fun and worked our guts out.  We were just running around London at top speed!  We found a cool American girl to teach as well.  From Indiana.  

On Friday, we taught this guy from Italy in his house.  Serving in this YSA ward we hardly ever teach in peoples homes, so it was a rarity and pretty fun.  Even though it smelled like smoke and mold there and we stood up for the whole lesson.  He was Italian!  I don't know how much he understood, but it was great.  The we helped Guadelupe, Manuela, and Andrea move house.  We had to take like 3 trips in a tiny car (a Hiyundi iX20)  to get the job done, but they were super grateful and fed us great food afterwards.  Then we had an amazing dinner appointment with the Rees'.  They are one of the senior couples in the office and they are just incredible.  Elder Rees was a patriarch and Sister Rees has one of the craziest and most amazing conversion stories I have ever heard.  They made a great home cooked meal and we had a great gospel discussion.  Then we had to watch a webinar from SLC.  Wow.  it was pretty boring.  Mom.  I hope your webinars are not boring.  

Today, we played basketball and football with the Elders Quorum of the Britannia ward.  Then we went shopping to Costco with President and Sister Checketts.  I love them both so much.  It was so fun to go with them.  We went around and spent £1, 100 on food at Costco!!  Wowza!  Then we ate hot dogs and got gelato.  It was the most American thing I have ever done on my mission.  Costco is pretty much the same over hear!  I saw the jelly beans and they reminded me of you!  Haha!

So, that was our week.  Pretty great.  I absolutely love being a missionary.  I have learned so much in this past week.  I feel like there are constantly big life lessons that I am meant to learn before I go home.  My companions have taught me so much.  Members have taught me so much.  President has taught me so much.  I just love learning and growing.  

Something I have been thinking a lot about is prayer.  I want to improve they way I pray again.  We pray so much as missionaries that it is difficult to keep ever prayer sincere.  I have found however, that when you do, your day goes better and you just feel the Spirit throughout the day.  I have come to know that the phrase in the Book of Mormon "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good" is absolute truth.  How great it is that we can commune with a loving Heavenly Father.  I know that he hears and answers every sincere prayer.  I know that miracles will come as we petition the Lord.  I was able to experience that first hand as we were searching for the missing missionary on Wednesday.  This really is the Lord's work.  

Till Next Week!  Love ya!

Elder Draper

July 7, 2018

Wow.  

I'm sad to hear about Aunt Sharron.  I can never thank her enough for getting me into those rangers apprentice books.  I'm grateful for th plan of Salvation.  Well all see Sharron again!

Mom!  I love you so darn much! It's so cool to have an amazingly talented entrepreneur as a Mom.  I'm so grateful for your example to me.  

I wish I had more time to write! Something cool that we did for PDay was renting city bikes and getting haircuts!  The small and simple things are what makes life great!  

President Checketts has been doing an exercise with the missionaries where he asks then to tell their story and do it in just 6 words. Going through the meeting several times, I had the chance to make several 6 word stories.  

Here are some! Enjoy!  

Called to serve couldn't be happier.

I follow Christ, never give up.

Finding joy in the small things.

Pressing forward with brightness of hope.  

Have a great week!  

Love

Elder Draper 

June 30, 2018

Love you Mom!

Thanks for the update!  

My week has been MAD!  So busy!  

President and Sister Stevens left.  I still can't believe it.  I love them so much.  

President and Sister Checketts are remarkable people.  President Checketts drafted John Stockton, Oversaw building the talles building in the western hemisphere, and is just an amazing man.  Sister Checketts is great too!  I love the fire that they have for the work!  We have been SO busy getting everything ready for them and now counseling with him and putting his vision in place.  Just wild.  

My new companion Elder Aguiar is amazing.  One of the coolest people I have ever met.  I seriously love serving with him.  Elder O'Hare is incredible too! 

Katie is getting baptised tomorrow!  So excited for her!  She has overcome so much and changes a lot.  She is just the best.  

Love you so much! Tell the family Hi for me!

Elder Draper 

June 23, 2018

It was Zhaun-Paul's 20th birthday on June 24, 2018

Hey Mom!

I know!  Crazy.  I won't even be a teenager anymore.  

THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Those little gifts have been so incredibly thoughtful!  I have felt loved this week!!

That's so cool that you took Elder Botta out to dinner!  He is a good man. Did he tell you that his cousin is going to be in this mission?  He was in the London South, but in like 8 days he will be in the ELM (best mission ever.)  So I wonder if it will give me flashbacks of my time with the other Elder Botta!  Haha!

I can't believe that Maddie is moving out!  That's wild!  She won't even be living at home when I get back!!  That's so weird to think!  You are losing kids at home quick!  

Anyways!  Our friend Hannah got baptised on Sunday!  It was amazing!  The service was great and the Spirit was there so strong!  She is becoming a member of Jesus Christ's true church on my birthday!  Doesn't get any better than that!  Our friend Katie is also doing incredible!  She went on Holiday to a little Island off the coast of Portugal for a week, but there is an LDS chapel there and she went and is just so solid!!  We are so blessed to be teaching some of the most incredible people I have ever met.  I know that God truly does prepare His children to receive His Gospel.  

This last week was... actually pretty crazy.  On Tuesday we went on exchange.  I went with Elder Heidt.  He is hilarious.  From Idaho. He was actually in my district exactly a year ago when we were in Romford together.  Good memories.  Great day!

Then we spend Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and most of today working on transfers.  That is where we go to President Stevens flat and pray that we can put each missionary where they are meant to be with the companion they are meant to be with.  We look at a gigantic whiteboard that has a little picture of each missionary.  We then counsel together about what they need and where they would be best.  It has truly been an amazing experience.  You can truly see the Lord's hand in the details.  It's not easy though.  The Stevens said that this was the hardest transfer they have ever done, because for some, they were not just moving areas, but moving from one mission to another.  Any time we put an Elder or Sister in the Norwich or Northampton Zones we were sad that we would lose them, but excited for the incredible opportunities that await them with new areas and people they would have never otherwise seen or met.  Sometimes we would just spend HOURS trying to place one missionary who is struggling.  The Stevens love each missionary in such an amazing way.  My love for each of them has grown as we labor over each missionary, one by one.  

My companion and I are doing great.  More and more I am just amazed by Elder O'Hare.  He is an amazing person.  I learn so much from him.  It hasn't always been easy, but it has been great.  We will be in a trio again on Tuesday.  Elder Aguiar has been an assistant to President Gubbler in the London South Mission for 9 MONTHS!  He will be joining our companionship to help merge these great missions together.  So exciting!  He is from Canada and I have only heard amazing things about him.  He will be my second Canadian companion.  I can't believe that in 6 days, the Stevens will leave.  I am excited to meet President and Sister Checkitts.  I know that they are called here for a reason!  I can't wait to serve them and assist them in the coming week!  Change is so prevalent here!  

I would love it if you sent me that video (me opening my call!)  It feels like last week!  Time goes by way too fast mom!!  I can't believe it.  I feel like I have grown so much on my mission.  I can't wait to see if when I get home you can see a difference.  I sure hope so!  I still have so much to learn!  I can't believe I have limited time to learn everything I want to on my mission!!  Crazy!

I love the Book of Mormon.  I have come to love the way I feel when I not only read it, but ponder what is there and try to apply it to my life.  Quite a few times this week I have been struck by a verse in such a way that I just stop and cry.  Mormon and Moroni went through so much so that we could have the Book of Mormon today.  I'm grateful for them.  I'm grateful for Joseph Smith as well!  He sacrificed so much for the same cause.  I read this quote by him this week  “I have always had the satisfaction of seeing the truth triumph over error, and darkness give way before light.”  It gave me chills when I read it.  To think of all he went through and to say that... amazing.  I know that he was a prophet of God.  Through him Jesus Christ restored his church.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to find peace in this life, and eternal life in the worlds to come.  

I hope that you have an amazing week!

Elder Draper

June 16, 2018

Dearest Mother!

This week has been amazing! Every moment we have not been in a Zone Conference, or preparing for a ZC, we were teaching our investigators... and they are AMAZING!  Hannah of course is getting baptised tomorrow! (Woohoo!) And the one Id like to also focus on is Katie.  

Katie is amazing.  The story of how we met her on the street is hilarious!  I'll have to tell you when I have more time!  It last week, she was so scared to tell her Dad that she was going to be baptised (their family is Irish and very Catholic).  We taught her about fasting and offered to fast with her.  She loved it!  She had a great experience telling her family, and said that she felt the spirit more and more because of her fast!  She is amazing!  She is from Oxford!  So cool!  After that great experience last Saturday, she fasted AGAIN on Wednesday!  Twice in one week!  Her testimony of fasting is better than mine!  Incredible!    

She also has been taught everything an is preparing to be baptised on the 1st if July!  (Also the day the mission boundaries change!)

The Stevens Farewell was amazing.  I love them so much.  

We had some great times riding our bikes and playing sports on our PDay today!  It was fun.  

I love you and am so grateful for the great love I feel from you! Sorry my emails are short and not very good!  I hope to repent and be better!  

Have a lovely week!

You're the best!  

Elder Draper