Fifth Letter MTC

Gooooood Morning Drapers!

Thank you guys for all your letters!!! Once I get into the field I will be able to email you guys individually. I only have time for one family email with the 30 minute timer on my computer. In one month Blake, Rachel, Nick and Maddie can send me individual emails rather than Dear Elders and I will be able to email you guys individually! I am glad you had a nice Father's Day Dad!! I promise I meant to wish you that last week but my mind went crazy during the email when I found out the Lakers won haha. Rachel Toy Story 3 sounds so cool! One of my favorite Disney movies. Rachel since you asked I have gained about 5 pounds physically and about 20 pounds spiritually! Because I have no form of entertainment here, I have come to love reading my scriptures! My favorite book is officially Alma, especially the first 40 or so chapters. Straight up missionary work chapters so those are my favorite. Alma 34 might be my favorite chapter. Nick that is sad about Manute Bol, I guess that pic we had taken with him in the Basketball Hall of Fame means a lot more huh ;) Thanks for your letter Nick. Blake! Doin work on the court that's what I like to read! Just keep playing your tail off and have fun! (And drain a ton of threes). Enjoy that tan! Well actually this weekend all of the new mission presidents are getting trained by the Apostles, so the gym is closed so they can hold meetings. That means my gym the last few days has been spent outside in the hotttt weather. I have been ballin' up the soccer field. I have to say my arms, neck and face got a nice golden hue :) Madison! I am so sorry about your ankle! If you obey Mom and Dad you won't get hurt I promise :) I cannot believe you are 10 tomorrow!! I hope you have a great day Maddie! Keep checking the mailbox next week for a little goodie from me :) Sounds like a fun trip you guys have planned!! I better see all the pictures!!! I got the Laker package!! Thanks so much! You will get a pic of me wearing it all.

My Spanish is progressing so fast! Seriously those years in high school taking it really, really help. I have basically learned all of the verb tenses and stuff before, now it is just a matter of refreshing my mind and memorizing. I can read anything in the scriptures or hear anything in Spanish and be able to understand. It is really amazing. They have us do our personal and companion studies in English while you are on your mission, just so you don't lose your English skills. But Elder Davies and I read from the Book of Mormon everyday in Spanish, so we are really learning a lot. My strength is definitely pronunciation, so I just have to focus on memorizing words, about 50 a day.

My phone call from the airport, Hmmm...I honestly have no idea how long it will be. I guess I will have as long as I am waiting for the plane to leave. But be prepared you might have to wake up way early. Missionaries have flights all the time, midnight, 2 am, 5 am, you name it. I hope since my destination is so close I will have a daytime flight. I can buy a phone card at the bookstore here, it is up to you. Families may not visit missionaries while they are at the airport. Sorry mom! I don't know if I would like that anyway, I don't need to say goodbye again haha. We will talk and that will be perfect.

On Tuesday we heard from Elder Snow of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. Another solid talk. I learned a good missionary tactic that really anyone can use. Whenever you teach an investigator, always leave them something to do, like read from the Book of Mormon, pray, etc. This will help them build their faith. If you teach then just walk away, the investigator will not take a step closer to Christ. When they keep a commitment, they are also preparing to keep more sacred covenants, like in the temple. Anyways maybe you could try that with Rob :)

So tonight we have a "special devotional" for all missionaries and mission presidents only. I can basically guarantee we will here from the brethren if not the man, President Monson! So get ready for a great email next week! We got a new district in our zone 2 days ago. Ok its 8 elders, and they are all going to Carlsbad, Calfornia!!!!!! They are going to my home on their mission!! Haha so I have been telling them all about the area and how they will want to live there after their missions. And they of course are all speaking Spanish so you will probably never see them. There is also an elder in our zone from McGrath, a Mormon town in southern Alberta. He has been feeding me all the info I need about the Calgary area. He is a total cowboy so that's pretty funny.

Alright family thank you again so much for your support and love! I feel all of your prayers so thank you. I know that Heavenly Father is watching over you guys and wants you to keep livin' life and having fun while I am away. I love you all!!!!!! Have an awesome week of no school!!!

Love--
Elder Draper

Elder Draper reacts to the repeat

My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy!

Alma 26:11

What Missionaries do in their free time - Part I

When you're craving a little Cafe Rio in the MTC you just simply improvise; throw a fiesta in your room, invite all the Spanish speaking Elders on your floor and pretend Tostito's chips and salsa taste just as good as The Rio's.

What Missionaries do in their free time - Part II

In your free time you can give your awesome companion a mohawk "up do". The next day he was able to get a "missionary make over" and the mohawk was gone!

Fourth Letter MTC

Memories of my two little die hard Laker fans at the
2004 NBA Finals

*We sent an email last night to Ryan after the World Champion Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in an intense game 7 to fill him in on all the details & this is his reaction to the news:

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!! This is the happiest missionary of all time!!!! Back to back baby!!!! Ugh I just found out and I have to cheer in my head because I am in a builiding right now! Everyone please run around and party for me! Wow I knew they would do it! Kobe would not let us lose the Finals at home! Dad send me everything Lakers: Championship tees, my hat, articles, pictures, anything. I cannot print emails so send hard copies of everything pretty please. Wow I am so happy and excited!

Ok that is so cool to hear about Rob! (*Rob works for Jamey and has expressed some interest in the church and has been given a Book of Mormon*) Dad I hope he is able to realize the promptings of the Spirit as a gift from Heavenly Father. I would love to teach him right now! He seems like a really nice guy. Blake: That was so neat to hear about your testimony! I thank you for that! I wish we could go on a mission at the same time. It would be so much fun. Focus on your mission the next two years. Get to know the bible! I barely know it but I need to!

So my estimated departure date is July 27, a Tuesday I think. Let's hope that sticks. Today was my last time in the Temple because it is getting major renovations the next 5 weeks :( But I was able to have a great spiritual experience there this morning so that is good. Hopefully we can hit up the Cardston temple during my mission. The Temple gives me so much power I can't live without it now.

Yes Elders Crittenden and Harman left for the Guatemala MTC on Wednesday. They were awesome missionaries and we look foward to hanging after the mish. Mom do not worry they signed my mission quilt :) We have two new ones that are not in to any sports at all. But that is ok with me, we are here for the same reason which gives us all something in common. One from Illinois and Utah. At least they don't sleep talk ;)

Our lesson this week went great! We taught the Plan of Salvation to a volunteer investigator. We were able to commit him to repent of their sins. At the end of the lesson, I felt prompted to invite him to be baptized, and he accepted! ALthough it is just a member pretending, I really felt like I was teaching and testifying to a real investigator. I can testify that it is truly the Spirit that teaches, not the teacher. On Tuesday we heard from Donald Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy. He gave a great talk. What I took away from that talk was how important the Spirit is in our learning. He asked us that during his talk that we would not take any notes on what he said, rather to take notes on what we were feeling. I did that and had the coolest experience. I can promise you will learn so much more through the Spirit than the person talking. So, next time you guys take notes during a talk or meeting, I challenge you to take notes on how you feel and to pay attention to that, rather than right down what the speaker says. If we write down what we feel we will actually be more inclined to go back and read over our thoughts, instead of a speakers thoughts.

That is about it for this week! The Lakers win will definitely carry me through the next 5 weeks here. I am so stoked. Let's go for another 3 peat! I hope all of you guys have an awesome week! School is almost out! Please go to the beach for me!! My tan is gone!! haha I love all of you so much!! Thank you for every letter and prayer it means the world to me! Keep looking for missionary opportunities!! Everyone needs the chance to hear the gospel!! See you next week!!

Cheezit's sound really good about now if you guys wouldn't mind sending a couple boxes, thank you!
--
Much love,

Elder Draper

Third Letter MTC

Hello again Drapers!!

Thank you all for your letters! Rachel and Nick those handwritten ones are the best, you guys are the best!! Thanks for your letters too Blake :) You guys really keep me going strong. Write everyday on dear elder if you want I love it.

Ok so I have temple at the same time every Friday, so yes mom I was up at 5:30 again. That won't change but it's cool we have a ton of free time today so naps are ok! That was so so neat to hear about the Combe family! Ugh it just makes me jealous of Elders Zant and Brainerd. I want to teach people so badly and baptize them. I am sure that is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

My Spanish is basically unbelievable haha. I really do believe in the gift of tongues. I can basically understand everything people say in Spanish now. It is awesome. I say all of my prayers in Spanish now, and try to speak it as much as I can throughout the day, which is a lot. In 2 weeks I will give my first lesson in Spanish! It is the coolest language ever I love it.

I have to tell you guys about last night (funny story). So we were sleeping and all of a sudden Elder Crittenden starts sleep yelling "Elder Davies” (my companion) Then Elder Davies starts sleep talking saying "Como". Um they were literally talking to each other while still asleep!! It was the weirdest thing I have ever heard! I thought for sure they were awake but they were totally sleeping. I am the only person in my room who doesn't sleep talk or do weird things at night hahaha.

Okay Tuesday Devotional was so awesome! We heard from Robert D. Hales!! He gave such a great talk. He spoke about how missionaries have a countenance about them that shines brighter the more we are obedient. I believe it. He said as missionaries, we have to recognize the people that are ready to hear the gospel. It just made me super excited to cruise the streets of Calgary and just find those people that the Lord will place in my path. Elder Hales said every person you talk to was put in your path by Heavenly Father and there is a reason for you to talk to them. Whether or not they accept your message right then and there is irrelevant. Open your mouth, and the Lord will do His will.

Well shoot that is too bad about the Lake Show. I had already started to tell all the Laker haters around here we would be up 3-1 for sure. Well, hopefully we can get that last win in Boston and win in 6! Send me any and all Laker championship gear :)

I cannot believe school is almost out for you guys! The time is really flying by for me in here. Feels like it has only been a week. I will continue to send as many pictures as I can. It is so much fun to be a missionary. You have to experience it to know that feeling. I only get to do this once, so I'm going to do the best I can and to have the most fun I can. I know that this time will seriously fly by, so I will take advantage of this prestige and humbling calling I have. Do I ever feel unworthy or inadequate? Absolutely. But I know the Lord needs me where I am and He needs me to learn Spanish and He needs me to help build up His Kingdom. I know if I do all I can, He will bless with the rest of the skills and tools I will need to accomplish His work.

Well I love all of you SO MUCH! I can feel of your love and prayers and support. I pray for all of you every day and I can promise you the Lord is looking out for you as I work for Him. Have an amazing week and I can't wait to hear from you soon!!! Love,

--

Elder Draper

The Four Amigos

MTC CRIBS: Meet the roomies! Just click on play button.

Second Letter MTC

Hello my wonderful family and friends!!

How is everyone doing?? Lakers win is what I wanna hear!!! Send me an article about the game through dear elder if you don't mind :) Well yes I have received all of your packages and goodies! Your guy's letters everyday is really keeping me motivated and so happy!! Thank you so much! I have enough candy to last the next two years :)

My district has 8 elders and 4 sisters. We are all going to different places: Guatemala, Colorado, El Salvador, and Calagary. All speaking Spanish too. Our district leader is Elder Amidon from Florida. He joined the church at age 16 and has a really neat story. Yes Elder Davies and I are getting along great! He is such a funny guy..always keeping my spirits up during the day. He is definitely here for the right reasons, I feel very lucky to have a companion who actually wants to be a great missionary. I am sending about 60 pics on my SD card today so you guys can check out what's going down at the MTC :) Sundays are so long haha. We study all morning till priesthood at 10. Then study more until Sacrament at 3. In Sacrament, there are two randomly assigned missionaries who give a talk in Spanish, which we must all prepare for every week, since you won't know when you'll get called on. Then a member of the Branch Presidency speaks in English. Then we study the rest of the afternoon and attend a fireside at 7. After the fireside we have the option to watch one of 4 movies at different locations at the MTC. Last Sunday I watched the Joseph Smith movie, definitely my favorite church movie. So here is a typical day: Wake up at 6:30 and prepare. We study from 7-7:30, then breakfast. Then we will usually have our comp study and language study, each an hour. Then a couple hours of class, then lunch. We usually have gym after lunch, and it is the best!! I can still dunk (haha) so we get to play whatever we want. I usually ball it up for 30 min and then lift for 30 min. They have the weight machines and stuff which I am loving. I am up to 160 pounds now consistently! I am definitely feeling stronger not only spiritually but physically as well. After gym we will have class until dinner at 5, then even more classes till 9. So about 8-10 hours of class each day, just a little longer than school I guess.

The Tuesday Devotional we heard from Elder Foster of the Second Qourum of the Seventy. He was a great speaker and shared a scripture that really hit me. D&C 98:1-3. It says every single prayer we give is literally recorded in heaven and Heavenly Father promises us that every prayer will be answered.

So yes every Pday morning (like today) we go to the temple as a zone. Our session started at 7 AM so we had to get up at 5:30!!! But of course I would wake up at anytime to go to the temple :)

I just wanted to share a little spiritual experience too. On Wednesday Elder Davies and I got to give our first official lesson at the TRC. You go there once a week and work on door contacting in Spanish, teaching a lesson, etc. The tasks we have change every week. Wed. we had to "meet" an investigator at the park and introduce our selves and give a brief message and testify in spanish. That was fun. Then we invited them to hear more, and we gave the first lesson in PMG in English. It went so so well. Our "investigator" was a missionary at the mtc who has been here for 12 weeks. He said that was the best first lesson he heard from first time missionaries! Elder Davies and I were stoked to hear that! And we knew we had the Lord to thank for that one, as we were able to teach by the Spirit and convey the message of the restoration to him :)

Anyways I have one bit of exciting news...I do not need a Visa for Canada!!! I will be able to freely get into the country without waiting, so I won't have to go to San Jose for nine months right dad ;)

Well I hope this email is ok for you all. I will get the hang of it soon I guess :) I love you all so much, and please keep writing me!! Have a great week family and keep me in the loop with everything you guys do!!

With much love,
--
Elder Draper

First Letter MTC

Hola Family!! Ok I just sent a letter in the mail yesterday..you can disregard it haha. My Pdays are on Fridays, however not yesterday because it was our first week and had a special schedule. We have like a half pday today which I didnt know about so I get to email! Normally I will email on Fridays.

Well I am absolutely loving the MTC! I have already had so many awesome experiences. Yes the first day started very funny when i got to my room and realized I was missing a whole bag of clothes!! I got it and everything was fine. The first night our fire alarm battery died so it chirped every minute FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT! I got barely any sleep but I lived. Also, my comp did not even show up until 8 pm the first night! And it's funny because he lives 20 min away from here. As I said in the letter you will get his name is Elder Davies. He is going to Calgary with me speaking Spanish. And mom you were right he got a little packet from the mission home up there with some info. I'll see if I can email you some of that info next week. The other companionship in my room is headed to Guatamala. They leave here in 3 weeks then head to the MTC down there, so Elder Davies and I will have a rooom to ourselves. I have taken a few pics so far and I will get those to you asap. I can actually print pictures off my camera for super cheap at the bookstore so i might do that. I had to buy a couple of short sleeve white shirts because it is pretty warm in the classroooms. On the second day of class we learned how to pray in spanish! I am not very good at it yet though haha. I had to get 2 shots also the second day. So this Wednesday my comp and I will give our first lesson in preach my gospel to someone who will come to the MTC as a volunteer investigator! We are required to teach a missionary lesson once a week. The first few weeks we give those discussions in English, but after that it has to be in Spanish! I can definitely feel the gift of tounges working for me. I have learned more Spanish these first few days than the whole 3 years I took it!! It has not really set in that I will be gone for 2 years haha. Still feels like college or something. Also it is incredible to see the elders that are a couple weeks ahead of me. It really seems like their knowledge is light years ahead of me so I know I am going to learn and grow so much the next couple weeks. Met my branch prez...he seems like a very nice guy. I got made senior comp which I am very humbled about. We have to plan EVERYTHING which is a total new and foreign thing to me.

It is the absolute coolest and most amazing thing to look in the mirror every morning and see that nametag on my pocket. I have come to know of my purpose as a missionary.."To invite other to come unto Christ". I know of my responsibility and I am going to work so hard at strengthening my testimony of the pricinciples I will be teaching investigators so that I can convey the message to them throught the Spirit. I cannot wait to teach! I wish I had more opportunities to do so before my mission.

Anyways I wanna hear how Palm Springs was! What else are you guys doing this week? All of your letters so far have been awesome! Nick you crack me up thanks for your funny letter :) I love all of you guys so much! I am having the time of my life and I am excited to share it with all of you! Have an awesome week and I'll hear from you soon! Pictures to come soon!
--
Elder Draper