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

Norwich Christmas! + Temple Visit

Hey Mom!

Wow!  That’s a lot of packages!  (we sent him 5 for christmas). We got them and I haven’t opened them yet, they are underneath our non-existent Christmas tree, but I already KNOW that one of them is a jar of Jelly Beans!  You. Are. The. Best.

Also, thank you so much for the diligent research you did on Norwich!  You probably know more about it than I do, and I live here!  Haha!  Plus I just want to thank you for sharing your missionary experiences with me.  Being out here you really see that lots of people who are members don’t share the gospel, but I am so unbelievably proud of my family out there sharing the gospel like bosses!  Thank you so much!  You guys are so cool!  

Mom!  I got to go to the temple on Wednesday!!  After over a year of it being off limits due to it being in lamanite (London south) territory, President Stevens finally got approval for the mission to go down!  It was incredible!  I really know that Temples are the House of the Lord.  I know that Preparation before going also invites revelation and learning!  It was just the coolest experience!  Being in the celestial room with the Stevens was just such a sweet experience.  I love them so much!  They were there just waiting for us in the Celestial room and it was amazing!  I’ll never forget this great week!

Also, Rizel got baptised yesterday!  (I was teaching her in Hyde Park)  So that is another amazing thing!

Man, it’s going to be fun to skype you guys on Christmas Day!  

Elder Leone and decided on 7:00 n Christmas Day.  (12:00 your time). That’s on Monday (Christmas day). I think I still have your skype. (Just checked and I do!)  

Come prepared to make the most out of it!  45 minutes is going to go by quick!  

I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful faces!  I love you so much Mom!  I know that this is God’s work and I am so happy to be doing it!  I know that the Book of Mormon is a God Given Testament if Jesus Christ and is absolutely the truth!  

You are the best!  Have a great week!

Hey Dad!  

I know!  I can’t believe how fast time goes.  In honestly makes my sort of anxious sometimes.  I love being a missionary so much.  I can’t waste a single second!  It’ll be over before I know it.  Time is such a crazy concept.  

I love the new Area! Norwich is beautiful and the Ward is fantastic!  The wards in London are great, but people there are busy and they move in and out of the ward constantly, so it’s hard to develop really good relationships with people.  Here in Norwich, they love missionaries.  We got loads of gifts from members on Sunday and we even sing in the choir!  Haha!  It’s awesome!  

My companion is amazing as well!  His name is Elder Leone from SLC.  He is an amazing missionary.  He’s been out for a transfer longer than me and we trained new missionaries and became ZL's at the same time, so we had a love and respect for each other before we became companions, which is awesome!  I don’t know if I have ever worked better alongside any of my other companions.  We get along really well and we work really hard.  It’s the best!  

The Zone is good,  but there are challenges that are so different to Hyde Park!  The Zone is spread so far from each other, that it can be fairly difficult to build unity in the Zone.  The Districts are far more unified.  It’s an interesting dynamic.  Also, the work is different up here.  People are well established and often times closed minded.  It’s interesting finding creative ways to find people to teach!  Here are 10 companionships in the Zone (20 Missionaries). Our area is pretty huge.  We do have a car not just for our big area, but because our Zone is MASSIVE!  Going to District Meetings is quite the road trip!  It’s just me and Elder Leone in this flat.  It’s a quaint little home out in the Sprowston village!  Pretty cool!  We went to the temple this week!  It was amazing!  I thought I told you we were going!  Anyways, I’ll tell you more about it on Christmas!  

We can skype Monday (Christmas Day) at 7:00pm England time... I think that’s 12:00 mountain time.  

Something amazing happened yesterday!  Rizel (who I wrote about a few times in previous emails and was teaching in Hyde Park) got baptised yesterday!!  Woooo!  I messaged her and wished her good luck and she told me how sad she was I couldn’t be there to see her baptism.  Right before I left she asked me to Baptise her, but I got moved, so it was a bit hard for her but in the long run a good thing.  If people get too attached to missionaries, it’s not a good thing.  Missionaries tend to leave...  haha!  But I’m just so happy!  She is so amazing.  Seriously kingdom builder quality!  

This truly is the Lords work!  I know that.  I know that the temple is the house of the Lord.  When we went this last week I had just a really sweet experience. We even got to stay a night in the temple accommodations because the Norwich Zone is so far away and it takes like 5 hours to travel there! Feeling the spirit that is in the temple and being in the celestial room with past companions and President and Sister Stevens was just the best thing ever.  It brought back memories from road tripping around Utah with you, and going to all those temples!  Those are some of my most cherished memories.

It’s going to be great to see you on Christmas!  Are you guys going to prepare some questions?  Or are we just going to gaze into each others eyes for 45 minutes?  Haha!  It’s going to be great!  I sure love you!  Have a great week!

Love ya!

Elder Draper

1.  We decorated this Members tree!  (Pretty good right?

2.  Elder Leone and I with the Stevens at the London Temple Visitors Center

3.  I love to see the temple

4.  Sort of a long story... but the Elders got locked out of their flat, so we came to the rescue!  Haha!

5-rest temple!

December 11, 2017

Hello Family!

Woooooo!  Disney Land!  (We just returned from Disneyland for Maddie's 18th birthday)

That looks so much fun!  

I’m so happy to see all of these great pictures and to see all of your happy faces! 

I seriously cannot believe Maddie is turning 18!  She’s a full blown adult now???  What the... and what is this "lit sauce" you guys keep talking about?  

Well, you guys just made my week!  Thank you for sending those awesome pictures!  

Well, I had a pretty great week!  I LOVE NORWICH!!  It is quite the change of pace from central London!  I seriously love it.  You could really help me out if you google some facts about Norwich and fun things to do on PDay and also look up some facts about the University of East Anglia.  (That’s where we spend a lot of time looking for Uni students to teach!)

My companion is Elder Leone!  He is such an amazing guy!  He is from SLC and went to Highland High School.  He loves baseball and American Football, is going to the UofU, and is just an incredible guy!  We get on really well!  We have had so much fun and worked so hard this week!  When I got here we weren’t really teaching anyone, and the area was a bit slow, but we put our shoulder to the wheel and saw some amazing miracles!  By the end of the week we had 7 people in our teaching pool who are preparing for baptism!  It was really amazing!  5 are UEA students from China, Philippines, and Thailand, (Chen, Sun, Chrystal, Amyson, and Jolene)and the other two are an older English pair.  (Stanley and Sylvia) (Sylvia's Mother by Dr. Hook has been referenced a lot this week, thank you Dad!)  plus it snowed really hard all during Sunday and English people can’t handle the snow, so lots of wards in the Zone and the Mission got cancelled because of the snow.  Unfortunately here in Norwich it snowed, but nothing stuck.  Its just too wet and rainy for snow to stick.  

I love this time of year!  I love the coats and the cold weather, and how people’s hearts seem to soften to the gospel light as we turn our focus to the reason for the season.  I know that Jesus Christ is our older brother and our friend.  He loves us and he died for us.  I’ve come to know him a lot more than I did before here in England, and I’ll be grateful for that forever.  I know that we wouldn’t have Christmas without Easter and without the amazing victory over death and sin.  I know that our sweet family will be together forever.  

I love you all so much!

Till next week, 

Elder Draper