LOOK OUT CIUDADELA ELDER DRAPERS' IN THE HOUSE...3/27/2013

 



Hola, Hola, Hola,

Long time no talk right? HA  Well alot has happened since we last talked... like.. I got transferred, yep, super shock to me as well since I only had 2 transfers in Virrey del Pino!



 

MARCH 2013 TRANSFERS



I found out Tuesday night that I was getting transferred, and I was super bummed, because I only got to say goodbye to like 2 people, the Juarez family who came come to our apartment to say goodbye, and I called Alina and told her she was super sad.  She talked like the whole Remis ride on the phone, but ya, yet another slam dunk packing experience. 

I always love going to transfer meetings and seeing everyone, it's like a big reunion.  I got to see all my old friends from back in the day like Elder Wilson, Hermana Pasquale, Elder Young, and others.

When the transfer video started and it came to Virrey, Elder Bustamante got a Mini Missionary (which is like a kid who lives in the mission and wants to live the mission life for a little bit) so looks like he's getting out of English 101 again! HAHA I was wondering what the heck, is there a new area that hasn't even been on the radar cause I wasn't seeing anything of that awesome Elder Draper popping up, did he go home or what?  Nope there, at the tail end, Boop, I appeared, and the Elders' went nuts. I have a lot of support here these days, especially at transfers what a great place to take it all in whatever it is that is coming! Well there I was heading to Ciudadela with Elder Caceres, what really, that Brazilian Comp I have waited for, what a BONUS however he leaves April 20th because Brazil has a law that if you are gone for over 2 years you are no longer considered a citizen. YIKES Elder Caceres is a short little round Brazilian, and he is way cool, lots of fun to be with, I love being his companion.  He loves Gaga, so ya it was meant to be! It will be sad to see him part though really soon on April 20th so I have 3 weeks to learn the area! However if things go how I want then I will become a Trainer at that point.   

As I mentioned, the downside of transfers is packing, because I have so much stuff, don't know where it came from (wink) but it's all here now! LOL  We also got new banking cards so that was exciting, mine was getting worn, not that I shop a lot the machines here are like shredders and like to chomp on the cards!





It was a bummer on at first realizing leaving Virrey as that meant I would miss my baptisms and the much anticipated Talent Show.  Alina told me "It's  only going to be a show because the Talent is leaving, our little Pop Star is needed in another part of Buenos Aires, but the show must go on" she was praying whoever took my place could carry a note! LOL

 

 

So here I am "In The House" in Ciudadela, our apartment is super nice, like one of the best in the mission! We have an amazing view of the city of Ramos Mejia and its like a New York pent house compared to where I have lived in the past, well that is if you call a washing machine in the building living the high life, it is to me! LOL Everything we need i.e. shopping is pretty to here. 







There are four us of and we live with 2 other Elders, Elder Slone from Florida and Elder Bracken from Arizona they are super great Missionaries as well! I chose the floor as to the bunk bed which I will move to as it gets colder, but I love the view for now I haven't seen this much city action since I got here, I almost forgot what electricity in building looks like at night! HA We have to take a bus into our area, very ghetto and at first I was super intimidated by it as it is said to be one of the most dangerous places in the Mission/World but hey if that's not a challenge I'm down for that!  There is a giant like apartment complex thing, I don't know how to explain it, its like something from a post-apocolyptic movie, we call it El Fuerte just across from our apartment. 

 


On Thursday I got to go on a division because Elder Caceres went on the tour for the Pastores in Capital, so I went with Elder Hall to his area because his Mini Missionary didn't arrive to the transfer meeting, it was just easily one of the best days, Elder Hall is absolutely hilarious, we have like the same exact sense of humor, yet we are both just absorbed in the work here!

I MENTIONED NOT RETURNING GOR MY BAPTSIMS HERE'S WHY
I HAS 2 SWEET SISTERS WAITING FOR ME IN CIUDADELA 

I was fortunate to baptize an elderly lady named Lydia  as the man who was suppose to baptize Lydia bailed at the last minute... soooo I was there to save the day, or that's what I was told!  I ended up baptizing Lydia! She is super nice and she loved her baptism as I love rejoicing in her joy as a new member. 


 

 

I also baptized Roxana the same day,  Each member and the experiences I have with them are priceless!!!  I am super excited to work in this new area, and see what adventures await me!!!!

 

 

 




Well tell Grams her card will be sent on Weds as everything here is closed until Thurday since last Thursday for semana santa.  Also mom. Riley is going on a Mish too, so send details as they unfold and see what's up with Brelynn's call think it will be there this week call SIster Bromley she didn't show up on email today so I am sure she is a wreck waiting on pins and needles this week! 

que el futuro de la roca (Gonna ROCK THE FUTURE)~~~

LOVE YALL!  SAME TIME NEXT WEEK
 
Love,
Elder Wade Draper

 

INTEVIEWS GONZALES CATAN ...3/25/2013

GREETING FROM GONZALES CATAN

Hello All,

Whats up?  Well for me it is transferrs this week so all pray fiercely that I stay here in Virrey as I would LOVE to be here for both my baptisms and our "Talent/Road Show" that I have worked so hard on with others to ensure it goes off without a hitch. We are all so excited and the buzz around here can be heard for miles!!  We have so many inactive members participating and the YOUTH HAVE JUST GONE NUTS, so yes I am feeling OVER THE TOP happy that I found a way to get things really rolling here in Virrey.  So many here feel they have like a lifetime to hop on the Gospel Train and somedays it seems impossible to have them see the time is "At Hand" as the world just keeps spinning faster and faster and dodging what comes with that is getting harder and harder.  I am truly greatful for the knowledge of  My Savior and the Gospel in these times.  My experiences as a Missionary has truly brought light to the gospel and my purpose.

We will have three baptisms as we just finished up the lsessons with them this past week and they are super excited to take "The Plunge" as ones referrs to.  He is so funny I am as well super excited for him!  

Despite ALL THE RAIN we had this past week it was an awesome one.  Spent alot of time finding finding new folks in new places to spread the gospel in this Gianormus Area!  We have found a new couple, Rita and Jose, and like many ade not married, so they cannot be baptized yet.  Keyword is yet they are so special and we are just not giving up on them for as long as Iam here.  I feel the love and excitement of gospel in their hearts, cutltures are sometimes a little harder to let go of but with prayer on both parts I am sure they will find their way ton the font.  When we visit it feels like, I'm in Bama again in the projects, they just have some funny ghetto things going on.

Things are pretty CHILL here but I must admitt I cannot help but be a little nerovus about transfers!  I had a really terrific interview with President it was amazing, I always leave a little taller Missionary when we are through and the spiritual drink is to die for, quinches my thirst everytime!  However I did walk away with the impression ther will be alot of CHANGES this time and as always he did leave me laughing which is always a good sign "All Is Well" with Elder Draper.  He was super exicted with the work in Virrey in conjunction with the Talent Show and the increase in attendance of non active members!  He gave me many KUDOS for finding a way to "Jump Start" the youth and memebers there, I would not be suprised if he and wife aren't found on the backrow somewhere, I mean they know how to have fun in a good way!

We had a fantastic home evening with a family playing what I called "Picscriptionary" better know as Pictionary.  When someone drew a picture of a story from the Book of Mormon or the Bible that person had to tell the story while their partner found the accompaning scriptures.  Hello... I have became a scritpure "Genius", mom you were right (wink)!
Feeling a little too confident, I guess you could say bragging in Spanish, I was quickly humbled by loosing!  Yep that Comp of my on the opposing team wasn't going to have that and perked up and started really getting into the game with his side of the team and they won!  It was a blast but I made him pay the next day.  LOL   He has been instructed to learn English as he is from Mendoza Argentina and already speaks Spanish as a first language.  So low and behold the next day guess what we started, yep English 101 and unlike in the pinch, there was no where to get away from me so that was the longest class/day of his life and has been going forward! HA Now he knows it's coming each day, as he has been putting it off forever, so he's slowing converting to a second language.  Somedays are trying, but I am sure I can be too.  I am very happy though with this week in his progress.  PAT ON THE BACK #2 in this email, arms getting tired I will stop doing that now!

Tell Grams still looking for that letter or she won't be getting that 80th Birthday Card, not really it's on the way but probably won't make it on time(sorry).  I will send her a shout out next week have HER AT THE NET, not her hairnet mom! 

 Please seriously have everyone pray daily I stay here, however it I must move on I know it is the Lord's will but it never hurts to "Wish Upon A Dream" right.

Wishing everyone heading to the  MTC this week Best Of Luck!!!! For most of you the term "You Go Girl (Sisters')" has taken on a whole new meaning but this Elder is praying for 
you all and knows you will never find another "Calling" that will replace your experiences or strengthen your Testimonyas more then your Missions...so carry on you valiant (sweet warriors) and carry the gospel unto all!

I love you family and miss you but I will be coming in that front door before you know what hit ya soon!

Love Your,
Elder Wade Draper








 

A TESTIMONY OF FAITH...2/18/2013

Hey All,

 

This past week was easily one of the greatest weeks in my mission!  As Maraiah and Whitney sing “There can be miracles if you believe”!

I got to go on an exchange with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Migdat who is from CALI CAL, and has the same amount of time in the Mission as I do. The exchange with him was  an awesome experience!  I definitely learned alot during the exchange! The exchange lasted 3 days so I was with him for the majority of the week and it was great to be out with him!

  ELDER MIGDAT AND ELDER DRAPER

 VIRREY DEL PINO EXCHANGE

Ever since I got here, to this area, Vierrey del Pino, I have wanted to explore different parts of the area, because it is so massive! This past week we traveled a little further/deeper, into the area and we found some wonderful people. We talked alot about faith, because that is something that I need more of, faith in myself and also faith in the Lord. We knocked on a ton of doors this week around there and nobody was answering or nobody would accept us, or invite us in, very discouraging,  it was kind of a huge bummer!!  Elder Migdat could read it on my face so he proceeded to tell me about his technique to find people and he calls it “Finding with Faith”. After his encouragement we pulled out the map once again, knelt in to say a little prayer and then we just followed the Spirit.  We picked a street and headed toward that street but before we got to it this is what happened.  Some kids were playing soccer nearby and the ball came towards us so we kicked it back and are eyes found this man sitting watching the kids play.  We talked to him a little bit and he became sad as he told us about his 15 year old daughter who had passed away like 3 years ago.  I felt so compelled in that moment to share the Plan of Salvation so we shared that message as we watched him weep, I myself choking back tears, what  super spiritual experience.  Later  Elder Migdat reminded me that if we had given up that day and not continued to  go through all those houses, face disappointment and then call on the Father we would not have found this man, and there yet was another BIG TESTIMONY of Heavenly Father’s “Seek and Ye shall Find”  just a big testimony builder to me!

We have also been working really hard with our investigators who are getting baptized on the 30th! We are for sure going to have 3! Vanesa, her daughter,Tamara, and also Ana. We are super excited for them because they are progressing so very well!

The talent show planning is going really good! I have my songs picked out and everything, and we have some really good participation and “Acts” from the Ward.  Alina reminds me to take a bow when it’s over at the applause, “Go Elder Draper” she says kids and teens as well as young adults are showing up like crazy for rehearsal and we have about 60% of the Ward participating including less active members!  She calls me Pop Star, how funny is that! HAHA

The transfer ends this week, so fingers crossed that I stay in the area for the baptisms and the talent show, would be really sad to miss that, it’s been a lot of work and fun!!!!!

Weather is also turning a little chillier here! I here it is so nice out there in Utah the “Holy Land” land! ;) no shorts for me right now! HAHA. But the tan yes!

Well kids remember as Momma Doman always says, “Work Harder, Love More, Laugh Allot!  Take care all until next week same time!

Love,

Elder Wade Draper

REAL SALT LAKE MEET GONZALES CATAN...3/11/2013

Welll Hey Family and Kids,

Here it is another week gone by and I hope all is well there! What a week I had, it was really an outstanding one!

Last Monday after I wrote, we gathered as a Zone and played a little soccer.  We had a nice little REAL SLC tournament here in Gonzales Catan between the Districts in the Zone, and let’s just say my poor district was never “In the Zone", we didn´t win one game but we had the most fun and that’s all that matters right? As you could have guessed, I am not the most amazing offensively, but I looked or should I say played, by far the BEST defense, my heart walked away happy “Is that suttel pride, because if the answer is yes, this BEAST, would be guilty! Thanks to the good ol´ football days I am not afraid to throw my weight around (or what’s left of it) LOL.

 

 

 

It was a super awesome opportunity to get to know other Missionaries in the Zone.  I got to know Elder Roque from Brazil, and what  is it about Brazilian Elders’, they just ROCK!  I have always been fascinated with Brazil (not to mention the women are beautiful not only on the surface, but from within, THE HEART), the Hermanas here have such a special spirit!  I have made a goal here in the Mission to learn Portuguses by the time I finish!  I am going to ask President if sometime during my Mission, I could serve with a Brazilian Companion.

 

 

During the course of the tournament I also got to chat with Elder Mitchell Call  (LPHS KNIGHTS FOREVER).   Speaking of LPHS, shout out from ESPN an MaxPrep etc. on the State and National Championship but Seventeen Magazine “My Crush of the Week is…the Knights of Lone Peak High School basketball team by Devin Tomb, REALLY STOP  IT!  I guess little Sis is growing up, but Lyn’s put that magazine down and SLOW DOWN tell I get home your growing up to fast while I am away!

 

 

 

This past week we went from having zero baptismal dates to having, sit down,  5!!!! The family that I wrote about last week where the Mom is going through difficult times, they are progressing very nicely Her and her Daughter, have dates for the 30th of March, and we are working with the Son as well.  He has a little bit more going on in his life so it’s gonna be a little tougher, but I know we can help him out!

We also met with another Mom and Daughter, who know Missionaries from a different part of Buenos Aires.  I was taken back when she expressed that she felt she had a better relationship with the North American Missionaries because we are so far from our home and families and she said “Who would do that if there wasn’t something really special about what you are doing”?   We hit it off pretty good with the visit, so I am excited to return.  I am not sure how my Comp felt about the remark though, I really didn’t bring it up again! She also expressed the only thing that was holding her back from being baptized up to this point was that she thought that her Daughter had to serve a Mission for her to become a member.  We returned with the fact we would love to see her Daughter serve a Mission someday but it was not a prequalification, so they both set a date to be baptized!

I don´t remember if I wrote about a girl we are teaching who recently turned 15, has a 6 month old baby and smokes 3 packs of 20 cigarettes a day! I have my work cut out for me and will truly need the help of Heavenly Father to help her overcome this addiction, however she is progressing really well.  We have made goals for her to help wean her smoking habits until she doesn’t have the urge and does not smoke anymore! She really has the desires to change her life and it will be most difficult for her but I know with “Faith”, all things can be achieved and that is a message we leave with her with each visit, “We have faith in you as does Heavenly Father, now return your Faith in him, he will not let you fail!

Yesterday in Church we had 7 investigators in the meeting, which was a huge blessing as they have staggered over the past couple weeks, so once again, I got a jump start from above!  Another investigator, Beti, who we have been working with for about a month, came for the first time and she loved everything she heard!  Ana, who turns 9 today, returned with her family, who are members but inactive, and she was excited to set a date for her baptism for the 30th as well! Even though she is young her spirit is strong and she told us in her words, “This is a perfect opportunity to help reactivate my family, I am so happy”.  If that little Missionary doesn’t get me all choked up!

So pondering this past week, I have really seen Mirracles at work, while serving the members here in this Ward. I have come to also realize how important it is to have the help of the members within the ward to engage in the welfare of the investigators that visit. I especially witnessed this yesterday.  The members of “My Ward”, feels like I belong here, were on top of it making sure that our investigators felt welcomed, comfortable, and loved and that the investigators left with a good feeling in their hearts of the experiences that day, what a great Ward!

Well my time has come and gone like so many other weeks but I am sure this week to come will be a great one!  Until next week know that I love ya´ll and pray always for you!  You are all beautiful and I thank you for your support, letters and emails!  Gotta run now Mom, so hang in there and tell Dad  I’m praying for his safe trip home.  Also tell Slade he’s the STINKER!!!!  Give my love to Misty, Gage and Nate as well. Best of luck Wyatt at Baseball March Madness and to you Lyn’s with your Piano Solo.  Last but certainly not least, Grandma, you know you will always be  _ _ _ _!!!  Same time next week all!

 

Love,

Elder Draper

THERE IS NO JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR CROOKS...3/4//2013

FEBRERO 2013 IN THE MISSION

Hello Crazy Kids and Family,

Well another week has gone by and now Febrero is officially over and March is well under way we are going to finsh it  STRONG, I hope!  ASsof late we are planning a BIG activity in the Ward, Una Noche de Talentos (A Talent Night) kinda like a road show back in the good old days.  It is going to be so much fun.  We have the youth in the Ward so pumped/excited about it, looking for a good turnout!  Yours turly will be performing one or two numbers and I as thinking  about singing a song that I found here in Argentina called "En Cambio No" by Laura Pausini, so we will see how that goes down.  We also have Stake Conference this month and our Ward choir was chosen to perform at Conferenece so Hermana  Alina has asked me to help organize it so let's just say ,I hope that it turns out perfect, I know it will!

Here is the answer to your question Mom: There is no legal system/justice for crooks here.  It is awful, though they caught those guys they just released them afer they got our stuff back.  We do not fill out any reports other then to our District Leaders.  For this reason I only carry between 10-15 pesos because very few places here take our cards, wierd, you would think they would be use to the Missionary culture by now and that the fact is OUR WORD IS TRUE as is our cash!!!  As for the exhange, Wyatt, glad you got your Bday card, it is 5-1 so that 2 pesos is roughly $10 in American currency.

I am no tsure about extending my Mission not even sure if that will be an option with the amount of Missionaries flooding in to the Mission field with the recent announcement.  I have been pondering coming home and erolling in the Spring semester-April at UVU.  Elder Cade Larsen and 2 other Missionary friends of mine will all be home at the same time and were talking about roomates etc.  Dad will LOVE that I will be close or just up the street tfrom home to help with that yard work! HAHA



HAD LUNCH WITH ELDER NIELSON
BURGER KING BUT NOT LIKE IN THE US

The weather here is starting to get cooler and I am loving it.  I sleep so much better at night when it's cooler but for me, it's not time to  pull out the sleeping bag just yet! 

As if  right now we don't have any baptisms set for this week as our our folks just have not been showing up to church consistanly.  A Hermana in the Ward did invite her Sister and childern to come to some acitivites and hince they have started coming to church.  The Sister was there yesterday and loved the message.  She has been going through some really rough times recently and she says the Gospel  makes her feel comforted and that is exacly the peace she  has been needing.  We are going to meet wit with her this week for lessons and wathch the Spirit open the doors to her heart for the desire to be baptised and start working on settig that date. We also met a Brother of a member and his girlfriend last week and began teaching them.  The member told us that he is really happy that his Brother is finally taking the lessons because for so many years he did not want anything to do with the church and when Missionaries knocked he would send them rudely away.  He said he continued to pray for his Brother and he knows that Heavenly Father has answered his prayers with our speical presence and he is over the top happy that we have been able to speak with his Brothe,r and that he has invited us to return.  I feel he will progress well, there is something special about this man and he has yet to share it, but I can see it in his eyes, he is good man!  He expressed he and his girlfrined are going to vist the Temple tommorrow!  She (the girlfriend) is very intrested in Baptism for the Dead, as she lost her Mother last year.  There is yet another Mother of  3, a teenager and 2 little girls, that we are teaching as well, the little, ones are so cute and funny.  What is about the kids here that makes me laugh and leave with a smile?  We had Famly Home Evening with them last week and it was just so much fun for all!

Well I think this past week I might have gained an ounce or two as we usually just eat lunch but this week the members fed us dinner, and I do mean FED US!!!  They were so generous it made my stomache this side of nauseated, as I am not used to eating like that, but you don't want to offend anyone right?   Once again I was in the kitchen learing to cook new items such as fieso con tuco, flan to add to my Merlo dishes of tortilla de papas with empanadas, so MOVE OVER PAULA DEAN, still love ya though!  Can't wait to prepare some dishes for you all when I get home!

Overall Mom, I would have to say I am doing just GREAT.  We had a pretty dang good week here in Virrey and I'm heading out to play soccer with the Zone today, that should be fun and I'll be sure to send picture next week (beat you on that one Mom)!  Tell Grandma I am not sure who owes who a letter so she better get writting!! HAHA  I look forwad to her letters alot, she looked pretty good on the video always looks good in Magenta.  It will be good to hear her laughter and teasing again! 

I hope everyone there had a great week as well!  I gotta' run now but you all know I miss and love you lots!  Remember again, THIS GOSPEL IS TRUE AND THE BOOK IS BLUE!!!

Love Your,
Elder Draper

ELDER PYROTECH CELEBRATES 1 YR 2/22/2013...2/25/2013

 

 ELDER WADE DRAPER'S 1 YR ANNIVERSARY 2/22/2013 VIDEO (Part 3 of 3)

 

 

 So Hey Kids and All,

 

Guess who has a year in the mission, this Elder right here!!!  WHATT???? How crazy is that!!!

In one year I will be back in good ol’ Highland Utah, painting the town red like I did back in the day, HAHA

I just wanted to thank all my wonderful family and friends who were able to be in my little videos these past three weeks! They really meant alot to me and I have the most beautiful family and friends in the World!!!!   I really love ya´ll! What a fantastic way to celebrate 1 yr!!  In addition I received my Alabama jersey with DRAPER and the #12 as that is the year I served, cool idea mom!!  Loved the Valentines and letters from all of you there at the house too! THANKS!

 

 

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I T   I S   A   M I S H   T R A D I S H

 

 

 

 



                                                 
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...on HUMP DAY...and of course  I could not pass up a chance to put on my pyrotech show! HA HA and yes I picked a short sleeve Mom and a dingy one at that!

 



Well this past week we went to Ramos Mejia for a special training meeting! I really did learn a ton in our special Training Meeting, like a whole lot!!!! I learned that we need to confirm the doubt our question our investigator have and also that we need to think about  questions before we ask them, like what do we want them to learn from the question we are going to ask!  Really it was an awesome training session!

 

So my story of the week….here it goes and Mom don’t freak out I’m just fine, with a little scrap below my eye! We had been working really hard this week with finding new investigators and everything.  On Saturday we finished lunch with one of the Hermanas in the Ward and we were walking down the road and 2 pibes from the street approached us.  They told us they were robbing us right up front... so Elder Bustamante, being somewhat little stepped to the side of them and avoided the situation, however that left me cornered.  I was just about to call someone to confirm an appointment when these 3 approached us so of course they took our phone and my watch, and they told me they had a gun.  I knew that they didn´t (or I thought I knew)  but just for precaution I let em’ take my stuff.  I just kind of laughed as they walked away because HELLO the phones here are trash and my watch well let’s just say it’s not a Rolex by any means!!  All in all it was somewhat a rush and super exciting after the thought!  The best part was when out of nowhere Elder B books it towards them!  I had no idea what he was doing I thought is this kid crazy, 15 mins ago I’m pretty sure he threw me under the bus, but apparently he heard the police “beep” from a patrol car down the street so he flagged down the police men and they jumped out and caught the guys on the hoof and we got our stuff back!!! How’s that for the story of the week!!!  I mean how nutsy fun is that?

Again Mother Dearest, don’t have a cow I am fine, really!!  I debated if I should say anything or not but gotta have one account here on my blog somewhere about these kinds of events right!!

 

Other NEWS FLASH…..Brelynn is going on a Mission.  I will fill you in as the details unravel, how cool is that mom, like insane right!!!  She will be a great Hermana.  I told you her little squeeze is going to Canada on a Mish here real soon so this is cool!

 

Well I gotta run not a lot of time today so until next week children, whoops speaking of, I sent Wyatt a Birthday email and his card should be getting there any day!  Also a Birthday shout-out to the lovely Miss Riley Powell!  Also one out to my grandma Margo!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  LOVE YA´LL!

 

Love,

Elder Wade Draper



Feliz 1 año aniversario 2/22/13 Elder Wade Draper 22/18/13

 

COUNTDOWN TO ELDER DRAPER'S 1 YR ANNIVERSARY 2/22/13

VIDEO  (2 of 3)

 

 

Hello Family and Friends!

 

Let me start with aaaaahhh Mom, loved the video and your Valentine’sDay clip, your the best!

This past week was long and hot! We had transfers this past week, and yes I am still here in Virrey del Pino with Elder Bustamante 6 more weeks here woo! I have really grown to love this Ward and the members here!


We had a baptism this past Saturday, Karen got baptized,  The baptism was so wonderful but the  behind the scenes however was a disaster! The font still had water in it from a baptism the Ward had like a month ago!  It was really filthy and the drain was not working so we had to empty it by hand, that was just a treat!  Karen was just a little bit late for her baptism like 10 minutes, and the people that had arrived early were breathing down my neck about where she was, but all  went well when she arrived and ended well also.  It turned out very nicely! I must admitt the mission has really helped me with my patience!

This past week was also Valentines Day! Dia de San Valentine! I hope everyone had a wonderful day of love, because here it was super lame  although I received a Valentine from the Ward! Nobody really celebrated it as far as I could see, I mean the people were selling roses in the street but that is about it!

 

 

 

  

Our ward does a Family Home evening every Thursday night, and this past Thursday, I taught it! I taught about the Book of Mormon and the Bible and how they both testify of Christ and how we could not have the Book of Mormon without the Bible! It was THE BOMB of a lesson and received well!

 





We had a super weird experience this week!  There is a woman who is a member of the Church who wanted to meet with us who is inactive so went to went to visit her.  As she began telling us some really weird things that were going on in her life, we decided to call Alina to go with us to the next appointment.. When I first saw this woman I felt something different about her; her eyes like stared through my soul, she went on to tell us some crazy things that had been happening to her and how her daughter who is also an inactive member is the cause of all of it! In the next appointment we talked about how the Gospel could help her and stuff but it didn´t really seem to sink through with her, so we ended up giving her a blessing of comfort.  When we gave her the blessing I felt something like dark, it was SUPER WEIRD and hard to describe just “DARK”. Later after the visit we were talking with Alina and she said she felt the same thing and that we should not visit her without a Member in the future but we have not heard from her since. But ya my first like really ‘WEIRED FEELING” experience in the mission though I have had weird or odd things happen this was different, gotta have one sometime right?

Well This Friday will be my year in the mission, how exciting is that!!!!! One year and I will be home partying with ya’ll I can only imagine what you got planned ma!  Good suggestion mom but unfortunately everything is closed around here for a Siesta so my Anniversary celebration Pday meal will most likely be something we could in our apartment. As for the Hump Day package, it will show up sooner or later Mom I know you probably tried really hard to get it here on time, the calendar and letters came last week so not sure why they beat the package, but don’t fret about it!!  Oh I also sent Wyatt a birthday card today tell him I love him and will send a special email to him next week! I also sent Riley one, will you pass it along to her?

 

I received a news article last week (shhh) telling me that there is a new line of Judges for American Idol, NICKI MARIAH, KEITH AND RANDY, I am dying, this easily has to be the best Season of American Idol! =) but no time to be thinking about that right now so until then American Idol 1 yr away (LOL)!!!

 
As usual times up and I hope ya´ll have an amazing week, love you much!!!! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the video it was so great to see and hear from you all, just an amazing video couldn’t have asked for more!!!

Love,

Elder Wade Draper