Hey thanks for taking care of this for me! The day after you emailed me about renewing via mail the mission office called and said my license is going to expire soon. So let me know when it arrives.
This should be a fun little stretch of my mission: General Conference, birthday, Mother's day - phone call, hump day, temple, then getting 6 new Spanish elders to replace the ones leaving. Life couldn't be better! :)
I really love Monday's and getting to hear about all of your lives! I can see so much progress in everyone, and it is super cool to see. Can't wait to be with you all again really soon! Know that I'm happy and healthy and excited for this wonderful time we have here on earth together.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers. You've picked me up through the tough times and I owe you big time for that. I love you all so much and hope to hear from you soon!
Love,
Elder Draper
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday March 28, 2011
Josue finally got his visa and leaves for the MTC this week! He came out and worked with us a lot over the last 8 months and is ready to serve his mission in Tempe Arizona!
Laura and Megan's gift package arrived and they said muchas gracias! Juanca and Alma are super grateful and say thanks as well. They had us over to dinner and fed us enchiladas verdes to thank you through me...it tasted amazing so thanks mom from me and the Fraire family!
Haha yeah so myldsmail has gotten progressively worse and slower during the mission so sorry about that. I got 20 emails today from last week and this week combined! I will try to tell you all of the great moments of the week, but lately we have had so few so I apologize for that. I love sharing the great stories and news with you so just know that you will hear them. Like my journal has barely been written in the last 2 weeks as well because not much has happened. Basically we knock doors every day from 12-4 with 0% success, and nights are spent with members trying to get them to share the gospel, because that is way more effective than knocking doors. We have not taught Lourdes this week either, she is super busy I guess. Frustrating because she is ready for baptism but we can't get in with her. Rocky invited one of his coworkers to church yesterday so that was amazing! We have an appointment this week with him. We went by the Fraires and saw our investigator Hugo (uncle of Juan Carlos) drinking a beer so that was super depressing.
Sounds like Blake's party was a nice surprise! Everybody is growing up so fast, it is really cool to see that from the outside looking in, I am really proud to be a part of this great family! Thanks for all of your examples to me. I wish missions would turn you into this amazing perfect person, but it doesn't. I am trying to become more like Christ just you all are, and it isn't any easier for missionaries. I have to really push myself and apply the things I am learning and teaching. I have grown so much so far, but I know I have a long way to go. That's the great part of life...we have a time set apart to prepare to meet God, and it usually takes a whole lifetime to reach that. I love each and every one of you and am trying to catch up to all of your levels.
So I am super excited that you get to head up to Conference! That is such a cool experience to be in the presence of the living apostles and prophets. I am going to have a few questions written down again so I can receive some revelation on them, whether through the actual words they speak or through the Spirit. They call general conference Christmas on the mission and I agree!
SO next week is transfers, which means p-day is on Tuesday. I think I'll get moved but we'll see what happens. Let's hope we can get a few investigator appointments this week! President said that the adversary is working super hard on the whole mission, which means we are so close to where we need to be, where the Lord wants us to be. The slump is going to be broken out of this week!!
I love you all so much and have a great week :)
Elder Draper
Heyyyy Blake! Yeah life is pretty great!! I heard about the game yesterday from somebody...so tough! The thing that bothered me the most is that
Love ya bro,
Elder Draper
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday March 21, 2011
Dad, hello hello!!!
I'll just write the family email to you because I have not gotten an email from Mom yet. Yeah the mission life is going pretty good. Last week was super warm, but it has snowed again the last 2 days...I really thought it was starting to change to spring, but that did not happen. I heard about BYU yesterday, right on!!! Sounds like Jimmer is carrying the team too. I was surprised to hear
It is insane to say my hump day is right around the corner. I feel I have been gone for maybe 5 months tops. So weird. I have seen Jared around a few times, he used to be in the west zone and we had zone conferences with them. We have seen each other and stared at each other awkwardly because we kind of only met that one time in the parking lot at BYU but have not spoken since so that's funny.
Juan Carlos aka Rocky invited his friend from work to learn about the church so the first lesson is going down Friday night! He continues to amaze me with his willingness to serve and be an awesome member of the church. Biggest influence of my mission so far that is for sure. But I think that is basically all I have for this week. I really miss you all a lot, but the time is flying and it is so cool to see how all of our testimonies and spirituality has grown the last 10 months. Such a blessing for me to be a part of. I love you all so much, and I pray that all the blessings from my missionary service go to you, because I feel way too blessed to have them. I hope you have a great week!!!
Love you so much :)
Elder Draper
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday March 14, 2011
Elder Draper and Elder Walker...great minds think alike :)
Missionaries with mustaches!
Los Caballeros Companeros de Calgary!
President Gordon B. Hinckley affirmed the value of humor for all: “We’ve got to have a little humor in our lives. You had better take seriously that which should be taken seriously but, at the same time, we can bring a touch of humor now and again. If the time ever comes when we can’t smile at ourselves, it will be a sad time.”
Dad and I bought him this Kobe shirt at the Nike store in NYC. Love it!
What's happenin!?!
Alright I'll be sure to get those papers back ASAP mom. So glad I wasn't around for jury duty...not sad to miss out on that. Glad you liked the pics and there's more on the way today. Sounds like a super fun trip to Vegas! Yeah I was at the Fraires for a movie night and she told me you were in Vegas and I was like I am pretty jealous too. I told her to message you back. Yeah we all heard about the earthquake and tsunami over in Japan. Amazing that none of the missionaries were hurt. It was funny the dad of one of the Spanish elders called his son to make sure he was ok because the news said waves would reach Canada. His doesn't realize we are super far away from the coast, unfortunately...but in this case fortunately. Has anything noticeable happened to our beaches?
I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Saturday morning we woke up at 5:30 to get to the south of the city and hear from Elder D. Todd Christofferson! Wow he walked into the room and all of a sudden the spirit overpowered me, I am sure it is similar to what you all felt with Cook. He was accompanied by Elder Real, an area authority, and Elder Melchim of the Seventy. Yes I got to walk up to him afterward and shake his hand. I almost can't describe what that was like. He asked me where I am from and then said "Well you are looking sharp Elder Draper, thank you". So that's how an apostle summed me up...I'll take that as a compliment haha. He spoke to us for about 2 hours about repentance, I learned so much from him, but even more from the spirit as different thoughts popped into my head. He told so many jokes it was amazing. He had us stand up to stretch and he started doing "head shoulders knees and toes," pretty funny. He made a joke about how the apostles pick where missionaries go every Friday, and he said that "some of us should have sent in a different picture" haha! But the best part was his testimony. That has been the highlight of every Apostle I have heard in person (President Monson at BYU last year, Elder Hales and Oaks in the MTC, and now Elder Christofferson). All of them testify that they know that Jesus Christ lives. They'll say something like "I have had certain experiences" or as Elder Christofferson put it "I want all of you to remember this day we have spent together, and I want you to especially remember that I told you that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is a glorified, resurrected being with a physical body." Just the way I felt and the way he said that told me that he has seen Christ. That isn't exactly doctrine, but that is what I feel. He also said that Christ directs this church "daily" and that he doesn't "drop in once in a while". Just like in times past, Christ appears and speaks with His Prophets and apostles.
I can never deny the testimony I have gained of this church over the last 10 months. It is so true, and I am so grateful for it. I have gained so much knowledge, which is kind of scary, thinking of DC 82:3..."...where much is given much is required". We know so much, and because of that there is work to be done.
Anyways that was my week. Didn't get in a lesson with Lourdes unfortunately, but she will be baptized this month, mark my words. Love you all, you are the best peeps ever! Have a great week!
Go Cougs!! and Lake show!!!
Peace
Love, Elder Draper
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday March 7, 2011
Introducing little Megan Fraire! We were at the Friare house when Sister Friare went into labor and we gave her a quick blessing before leaving for the hospital. She is super tiny and it was so exciting to kind of be a part of it!
Who is that man in black?! This is my companion's Morphsuit. He's convinced me I need one too. Imagine going to a dance with that on! (Funny, Ryan has no idea that we have heard of them and that Morphsuits are so popular here in California. We had lot's of the youth wear them to our Halloween and New Years Eve dances. I don't remember seeing that on the "what to pack" list for his mission so his companion must have had a different packing list! Reminds me of Blue Man Group...)
So basically I just had sinus infection and sore throat but I am 100% again thanks to your prayers! We didn't get a cita with Lourdes this week because someone in her family had a baby so she was busy with that. The baptismal date will be set this week for sure. I know for a fact we will set it because she is soooo prepared and ready. Looks like she will try to divorce her husband pretty soon.
Elder Walker is a great comp and makes the mission so much fun! We will take some pics this week for sure since you asked. Nothing my companions do really get to me and I just roll with it all. You learn a lot about yourself and how you deal with people while on the mission.
So Rocky went to the temple on Saturday for baptisms and had the time of his life!! He couldn't stop talking about it to us. That night we went over to his house and he skyped his family in Mexico to tell them and we got to talk to them too! I never thought I would get to go on skype on my mission, and now it has happened twice. He also got his first calling on Sunday: Auxiliary Secretary of the Elder's quorum! He is excited to serve and is such a better member of the church than me.
The big news was that Alma Fraire had her baby girl Megan on Friday at 12:25 AM! We were at their house Thursday night when her water broke and contractions started, oh man it was the most intense moment of my life! My heart was going crazy with excitement and it's not even my family hahaha. We gave her a quick blessing, and they rushed to the hospital, and 3 hours later Megan was born. Pretty crazy experience but super exciting as well. The plan of salvation is genius and the coolest thing ever isn't it!? Just can't see how you can't believe in God with all these amazing things that happen here on Earth. But anyways I gotta take off and work on my jumper. Para que sepan, I hit 90/100 free throws last p-day, so I am actually becoming a better shooter as well haha.
Thank you for everything Mom you are the best!! We will be on the phone in only 2 months if you can believe that!!
Love you all, thanks for everything, and I'll see you next week!
Elder Draper
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday February 28, 2011 - 9 months
It was fun to celebrate my 9th birthday this weekend! (9 month mark) I've looked back on my mission and just love how much I have learned about myself and how much my testimony of this church has grown. I can't believe Conference is already almost here...that was seriously the fastest 6 months ever! So jealous that you are all going up for it again, let me know how it goes.
Well we got some exciting news in our email from the mission today...on March 12th Elder Todd D. Christofferson of the Twelve is coming to our mission!!!!! Woooohoooo!!! I am so excited to meet him and hear what he has to say, he is one of my favorites! Last March Elder Bednar came, so I guess March is the big month of this mission. That still doesn't top getting a private meeting with Elder Cook like dad did.
This week was pretty awesome. Elder Walker and I are getting along great and having too much fun with missionary work. He is from St. George and he actually came on his mission straight out of high school, we both graduated in 09. We started teaching Lourdes from Peru. I taught her one time in December, but she left for Peru because her dad died, and so she is back and ready for the gospel! She is the one whose husband is American and basically atheist, luckily we aren't teaching him too. She has come to church the past 2 weeks and even attended the baptism last night. She said she felt something she never has before and cried basically the whole time. I had to speak while the 3 people that were baptized changed, and I invited her to be baptized right over the pulpit! Also I had to speak in sacrament about missionary work which was so nerve racking! But everything went fine. I am probably more comfortable giving a talk in Spanish than in English now. I can still speak English just fine, but when you start talking about anything gospel related, I prefer Spanish.
Another cool thing that happened is that Juan Carlos got the priesthood yesterday. That was so great to see and he is set for the temple on Saturday! (baptisms) We are not going to go until June, so I won't be able to be there with him for his first time. Also before I forget I was going to ask if you have my priesthood line of authority? That would be cool to have. I would research it here but I have zero time.
That is about it I think. We should have a baptismal date set with Lourdes by next Monday emails, so get ready for that! I love all of you so much and miss you but the Lord is watching out for you! Have a great week and see you next week!
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Elder Draper
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Elder Draper
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