GRANDPA'S GOT STYLE...AND HERMANA'S GOT 4 CRAZY KIDS...8/19/2013

First off...I have to start off this week by saying...Life doesn't get better then this, my Mission, especially here in Hurlingham, opening this new area leaves me speechless, no I just didn't really just say speechless right?

 

It continues to be yet another amazing week for me..I could get used to these "WALKING ON SUNSHINE" moments!  Can I just say things are really looking up for this area in the next coming weeks! =)

 

Like I said last week, we switched the focus from Members to Investigators and we really did find some absolutely wonderful people this week!

 

I was looking through the directory last week on Monday night, and I saw the name Max???a Mir???an??da, and I thought wow that is a fun name, so yep, sat the date on the calendario and we headed that direction to visit her.  She is a member who was baptized 2 years ago and is less active because of her health, but still has her Testimony which has never went weak.  With that saidwe were off to see her and her two 2 kids that are not members, Julieta all of 17 and Carlos who is 23!  Julieta being a teenager dabbles in the gospel but Carlos is on fire and absolutely amazing !!!!!!! He has read and done, like everything we have asked and left him with to read, and he came to Church yesterday! He absolutely loved it and is super interested in serving a Mission, so I cannot wait to see him progress, he has a baptismal date for the 14th of September! CHING CHING!!!!

 

We are also working with an elderly man named Luciano, 75 year-old carpenter with a taste for wine! He is has been an "ANNIVERSARY" investigator as I call it, cause they have been contacting him for a few now, but he is really just a great "RAISIN"! We will have to just be more creative I guess right!! He came to Church yesterday as well, and BAM Grandpa had style strolling in, in his pinstripe brown suit! GOTTA LOVE HIM YAAA!!!
 

We still continue to get closer to the families here in the Ward, especially la familia Zarate that I mentioned last week! They are just so wonderful and I am now officially their second son say's Mama, so it's "Bill" and I and Elder Escobar. "Bill" is a huge part of our success and  has been helping us out so much with the work! His Mama  told us the other day that we are his angeles (angels), because she see's a rubor masculino (glow in his cheeks) every time we are with him or returns from a visit with us and honestly I feel the same way when he is in our presence, he will make an AWESOME Missionary! His birthday is this Wednesday, so we are going to go to the party, and then we are going to cook dinner for them on Thursday night! =)

 

Speaking of birthdays, we went to a child's birthday party (and there we tons) on Saturday with a less active family! Less just say I cannot create a balloon animal to save my life but lots of laughter due to me popping them with my efforts!  We are trying so very hard to get them re-activated, but it is super hard because one of the daughters passed away about 6 months ago, and the Dad is just angry with God, but he loves the Elders and the Church, which is good, it shows he still hasn´t lost his testimony so the Missionaries still have a foot in despite my Clown'less efforts, gonna work like crazy to get that jump started!

 

Another wonderful experience that we had was we got to pick avocados for an elderly Hermana in the Ward, who is just a hoot! She introduced us to her niños suerte (lucky kids), 4 dogs and a parrot, and the parrot screams her name when she isn´t talking to him "OLGA! OLGA!".  She explained I have one that sleeps the other eats and eats, one that cries, one that begs, and one that is always screaming! I was dying, I just went off laughing and couldn't control it which only made everyone else laugh even harder as well, all of us about pantalones mojados (pea'd our pants) when we could catch our breaths she smiled and  "Ella no habia reido enlas edades (I have not laughed that hard in ages) and she started to hug me but then paused and  respected by blowing me a kiss, I felt 10 feet high at that moment and felt the LOVE of Argentina all around me!

So as you can see, we had an amazing awesome week!  Super excited to see what happens this week, always and adventure here in Hurlingham!

Well kiddies, until next time remember as I always say,  "Stay Classy not Sassy"!

 

Love,

Elder Wade S. Draper

Bringing a Whole New Meaning to TRACK ( LOL)

 

P.S. Mom stop whining, LOL, I still don't have my cam so no pics yet but keep fingers crossed for next week, you know I love you and always carry a picture of you though in my heart!!!! =D

  
 

PASS THE PRIME RIB PLEASE...8/12/2013

Hello and Hello Beautiful people!

I hope everyone has had an amazing week, because I sure as heck did! 

 

Elder Escobar and I have been pounding the streets hard in our new area! Getting to know everything about it and getting to know all the members and all that good stuff has been a natural high for me! There are some really amazing families here in the Ward.

 

Two of my favorites that I have gotten to know are the familia Hornos and the familia Zarate! THe uno familia have 4 kids, and they are all just so funny, each in their own way! We are teaching the novia (girlfriend) of one of the sons, it's exciting to to be furthering his teachings because he is at the age when he should be preparing for a Mission. We ate lunch with this familia and they made prime rib, get out of town right!!!! Like wow, I told them that I had not eaten meat like that in quite some time and shared Dad's infamous prime rib secrets!

 

Then the familia Zarate, they are super awesome, we for now we really only have gotten to know the mama and the son, "Bill" for lack of respect and how many "Bill's" could there really be here right!  LOL. He just finished his Mission papers and is over the top super excited that there are Elders now in the Ward, and wants to go out and work with us he is the bomb and we are gonna be his fuse! We already have citas to do service and go out and do visits with him this week, they live in a really nice part of the area, and their house is just absolutely amazing! 

 

So you could say we have been doing really good this week, nothing super new. We are working with the Hermanas to revise the Ward Mission Plan, so that we can help the Ward more with their Mission work. We have a few investigators, but we are still just starting out with that.  Last week the focus was on getting to know the Members and the area, but now that we have that down, we are switching the focus to finding people who are ready to be baptized, so we will see what adventures comes this week. 

 

Elder Escobar is so wonderful, being relatively new, he is having a little trouble focusing on home and his past... but we shall change that to the Lord and his Mission, I remember those "GREEN DAYS", and we're not talking the band here!

 

Well lots to do this week and I am super excited to get it all done, actually the work is never completed right, that's why every six weeks a new crew arrives, but the army sure has beefed up the reinforcements right!!  Haha

 

Well I love ya´ll!

Stay classy, same time next week

 

Love,

Your  #1 Fan of the Lord

Elder Wade S. Draper

TRANSFER...WEDDING...BAPTISM IT'S... RAINNING MIRACLES...8/5/2013

 

 

 

Hello & Hello Family and Friends,

 

So wow where to begin, so many things have happened in this past week it has been unreal! For example, we had transfers this past week and so we got the call Tuesday night and as predicted Elder Draper is out of Ciudadela, kinda of knew that it was coming, but hey what can ya do but hang on for the ride right!!

 

So we went to the transfer meeting, and transfer meetings for me are really just the best even when I might want to stay where I am at, its like the only opportunity that all the Missionaries have to get together and talk for a little bit so the pay-off is pretty sweet! I got to see allot of my favorites,  thee fabulous Hermana Pasquale, and some of my besties Elder Roque, Elder Wilson, and Elder Slone.  And also all my fabulous MTC district! 

 

So there were some wonderful changes,  Elder Neilson is a Zone Leader now and I couldn't be happier for him YAAAAYYY!!! I am super excited for him he's just awesome!  Hermana Leavitt is training again so I am sure she s loving that! 

   

As the slide show went on, I waited to see where I was going, and finally it got to Caseros which is the last zone in the slide show... and I was like no way I am staying in my zone! So I waited to see where I was going and there it was opening, a NEW AREA ELDER DRAPER & ELDER ESCOBAR HURLINGHAM B!!!!!

They split the area of Hermana Andreason and her Comp, so now I am in the same ward as Hermana Andreason.

 

My new comp is Elder Escobar from Chile, he only has 3 months in the mission, and I am his 2nd companion, so I am essentially a trainer as well or as he refers to me as "his Uncle" in the Mission! He is a great guy,a little bit older hat 24, and is a convert of 3 years just a  super awesome guy!

 

But our little house is super small! We live behind a really cool member family, Elder "I" and Hermana "I". She works in politics and has allot of contacts in the society.  The day that we got there she was acutally on a really popular game show here in Argentina, and won! She showed us the video, it was soo pretty funny! 

The area is sooo different, nothing like anywhere else I have served, I love it!! It is a richer area, but still has some poor parts, but some of the houses, I am just like wow, what I would do to convert this family!! HAHA The Ward is really awesome as well! We have been getting to know them, and they are sooooo excited to have Elders in the Ward I just feel we are going to kill it here!

I am also super excited to be in the same Ward as Hermana Andreason, it's like we have been together our entire mission even though we haven't, so that will be fun as this is will be her last transfer as her 18 months winds down with this transfer.

 

I am really blessed to have this opportunity to open this new area! I am super excited to put all my faith in the Lord and just work like crazy here in Hurlingham I know I am here for a reason and feel like there is so much to do here.  Besides that, if you know me, you know I love adventure! So we shall see what this adventure brings!









Romina and her husband got married this past week, Friday to be exact and it has been a long process for them to be able to do this.  They are just perfect and have the cutest family.
I could not be more happy for them they were my first contacts when I arrived in here.








 

 

Another AMAZING blessing I got to experience this past week was Romina's baptism on Saturday following her marriage!!!! I got permission to go back and she asked me to be a witness as her husband baptized her.

 

 

 

 

She was soooooo excited to see me! I hid from her until she walked in and then jumped out, she screamed and almost hugged me !!! HAHA I was equally as glad to see them and their children.  I am really just sooo grateful I got to attend and witness the fruits of my labor ,it is a moment I will never forget and cannot quite describe, BEYOND WORDS is all I can say! I will always remember them and hope to return someday to visit them, for sure we will stay in touch when I get home!  I totally would send pictures... but I left my camera in the car of a member who drove us home, so when I get my camera back I will send the pics I took for the blog but check with Misty she sent her a couple post hose now Mom!

Ok so it really is a small world.  I met Uncle Kevin's companion, Elder "C" when he served here in Cordoba back in the day (ha).  He is in my ward and is an Area Seventy now so they will have to reconnect!  He recognized my last name and asked where I was from and then said he had a comp from Utah when he served. How crazy is that!! 

Well everyone I hope ya´ll have an absolutely amazing week as I trust I will!  I love you all very much and want you to know I love my Mission.

Love ya´ll!

Stay Classy!

Stay sweet!

Love,

Elder Wade Draper 



JULY IN THE MISSION

DOORS KEEPS OPENING...7/29/2013

Well Hello All,

 

How is everyone doing GREAT I hope because my week was absolutely amazing to say the least!

 

 

Probably one of the most exciting things that happened this past week was Irma got baptized!!!! It was super awesome! She wanted Limberth Duran, one of the counselors in the Bishopric, to baptize her.  It was a really spiritual baptism because she came to the baptism really sick however after the baptism she was like. "Wow I feel like a brand new person" and feel much better! When people say stuff like that as sick as she was upon arriving you know there are miracles on board!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also went bowling for P-day and it was super fun! I enjoyed it allot, Elder Hazlett is like a crazy unreal bowler it was just SUPER FUN! We also ate at McDonalds that day, which is like a real treat we never eat there much because its pretty expensive here, but it was a great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

So this week Hermano Andreoli and I did work!!!! Like crazy we did!  We found so many new people this past week that have a ton of potential to progress! We are working now with the brother of Kati, his name is Claudio and he is soooo great! He has always wondered about the Church, but never had the chance to meet or talk one on one with the missionaries so let me just say I am so stoked! He has a baptismal date for the 24th of August and we are going to work with his son who is 8 years-old as well!  Our last baptism, Kati gets back from the winter vacations with her son Axel, who is getting baptized on the 10th of August and I am equally as excited for that, doors are opening and opening here, keep fingers crossed I stay!

 

This past week we also got the opportunity to do some service! Hermana Garcia one of the Hermanas in the Ward wanted us to cut down some trees for her, and I look great with an axe in hand, so we went to work! HAHA  We also had a silly tree cutting down photo shoot, how silly right, we had to make like a funny face so that was definitely a good time! Think I will be in line for a modeling career here in "Tina" HA HA

 

Elder Hazlett and I have just become the greatest of friends and I have gotten to know him pretty well! His parents own a river company in Moab and I am almost positive it was the trip I went on the summer after I graduated so we made that little connection! The other night we stayed up and had a great talk about the mission and life, just one of those bro talks everybody needs every now and then. 

 

So the transfers are coming up this week!!!!! I really hope I get to stay and watch all these people progress, but I know that wherever the Lord sends me it is where I am needed but I really feel like we have just jump started this area again as it has been a rough 2 weeks prior!  Well we shall see what happens.

 

Well all I gotta run lots to squeeze in today!  See you back here same time next week and as always

stay classy not sassy kids!

 

Love,

The One and Only,

Elder Wade Draper

 

PS:( Romina Cuelli from Altos de Merlo 2 is getting baptized this Saturday.... and I am going! I am so happy for her she is the first contact I had when I arrived here in Argentina and they are getting married on Friday and baptized on Saturday.  They will marry in the temple in a year, who knows maybe I can come back for that.  I love them so much and wish them the best! 

ONE CRAZY DAY AFTER ANOTHER...7/22/2013

Hello beautiful family and friends!  Hope everything is going well for everyone!   Today is a yet another SPECIAL DAY for me..... I completed 17 months in the Mission! I can hardly believe it!  As it has been said many many times before, Time flies when you are having fun",  right?

 

But WOW what a CRAZY WEEK I have had this past week!

 

 

 

 

 

 First off my Zone Leader, Elder Lesuer had his birthday last Monday! He is just one of my dearest friends here in the Mission so I had to do something for him!  I baked a chocolate dulce de leche cake for him and he was just so very grateful for it!  He is a great kid!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Well after that Axel, the son of Katy, my recent convert, asked about the Temple and what we do there.  It just so happened that our Ward was doing a Temple trip that week on Wednesday so we got permission and went to the Temple with him! 

It was a really cool experience as we walked around the gardens, watched a video presentation, and talked about the Temple and what it means to the members of the LDS Church....

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.... and what we as Missionaries do to help others other's "Come Unto Christ" 



 

 

 

As we were getting ready to leave, I heard my name being called, lo and behold it was Hermana Zeniquel and Hermana Juarez from Virrey del Pino (they work in the Temple)!   I was sooo happy to see them, they gave me some updates on the ward, how my converts are doing and all that good stuff, what a tender mercy it was to see them! 

 



BUENOS AIRES TEMPLE VIEWS

 

As if the week wasn't already crazy it got even CRAZIER on Thursday, when we received a call from the Assistants telling us we had to be in the offices in the evening, so we went to the offices.  We had interviews with the President, it was probably one of the best interviews that I have had with President, he explained allot of things to me, and gave me allot of advice I needed!

 

 

 He informed us that our area was splitting, and Elder Ticino would be training, I would be getting a Mini Missionary until transfers, a week away. So Elder Ticino now has Elder Hazelett from Moab, UT, I have Hermano Andreoli from Lujan! Elder Hazelett is an awesome kid! He played basketball for BYU and he knows allot of the players from LPHS like Nick, Tyler, TJ all the great athletes, we have just hit it off!  Hermano Andreoli is so awesome! He is all of 17 and has a big desire to learn and build his testimony here in the Mission! 

After the split we went our separate ways and did work, and we are doing so great here now as 4 missionaries in the area, I am already seeing allot of progress!

 

 

We also went and celebrated Marina´s birthday on Friday! She invited us over for lunch, and she made a giant asado, corn, potatoes, salads, and chorizos. Then after we were so full she brought out a giant cake, she told us this was one of the best birthdays she had ever had! So that was just so special for me to make her day special!

 

Well I am looking forward to this week working with Hermano Andreoli and furthering the work here in Ciudadela!  As always Stay Classy Not Sassy Kids!  Same time next week all!

 

Love,

Your Elder Wade Draper

 

PS (Remember this quote:  “Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses, cuz' we were born this way") Guess who my friends?

 

 

 

 



"ALOT OF MUSCLE IN THE HOUSE"...7/15/2013

Wow All,

What a week we had!  I needed it really, so many things happened this past week!

First off we finally have some investigators that are progressing!!!!! Oh how happy my heart is for that, because it is so difficult these days getting the people to progress here and the indicators are a huge part of this Mission, I mean HUGE!

 

So first off we found a new investigator this past week! He is an ex soccer player for Boca and recently was released from prison as of like 45 days ago however  he is an awesome kid who is just wanting to change his life and that's what the Gospel is going to do for him with a little push from this Elder!  He also has a daughter with the sister of a famous football player Carlos Tevez so a lot of MUSCLE IN THE HOUSE! He came to church with us this past Sunday however was a little tired because we went to go pick him up.  The night before they had a birthday party in the family and it was late night for him.  He stated however he really enjoyed the Sacrament Meeting!
 

My darling little Hermana Irma (cat lady) is doing wonderful! She is progressing so well! She has a little problem with retention, so we are helping her by teaching in repetition.  I don´t know how many times I mentioned that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ, but it seems to be working with her if we just o back and repeat things adding a new line each time and then gong back and picking that up again!  The work is hard but she is sweet and her eyes are full of hope!
 

Also this past week I got to go on a division with Elder Crowther!!!! It was a nice little opportunity that I had to catch up with him and just kind of hang out!  He is the bomb and just awesome to be with when your in a slump!  We also had to house all the new Missionaries that came last week, a lot of work but that was just an absolute treat!















But that was basically my week in a nutshell!

 

Well kids, I hope everyone is doing well!  I miss and love everyone!
 

LOVE YA'LL!

Love,
Elder Wade Draper

JUNE IN THE MISSION... BUENOS AIRES OSETE...6/2013

 

JUNE 2013 IN THE MISSION

LET FREEDOM...PAINT...7/8/2013

Well Hey Family and Kids!

Hope everything is going well back home and I hope that everyone had an amazing 4th of July, filled with flags, noise, night works and good ol' American things!!!!!!! YAY America! They don´t really celebrate July 4th here so it was just another day here in the Mission for me.

 

 

 

 

I decided to celebrate. I would paint, since I just have had all this creativeness bottled up inside of me for awhile now, and with that I decided to go buy some paint and paint a picture for my 4th of July so here it is folks! I was inspired by the US flag and with that I titled it "Freedom to Create" ENJOY! LOL So there is a little creative side of Elder Draper!

 

 

   

Sorry I didn´t write last week, was not my best week, but I am back and better than ever! I had a wonderful week! This past week I really felt like a Missionary, working and serving the Lord, all I could ask for right! 

 

Well I really have to put all engines go these next few weeks because the Ward where I am is dying, literally like nobody comes to Church! We now have to work with the less actives, like a ton! I have really gotten close with a specific inactive family! It is a Grandma who lives with her children, 2 who are like in their 20's and then her Grandson who is 17.  They are just super awesome and they always invite us over to eat.  Last night we went over and ate this delicious like pizza meat thing called MATAMBRE and it was incredibly sooo verrry  goood! 
 

As I mentioned the Ward earlier unfortunately we don't have very many progressing investigators which is hard, so very hard... but we are working on finding more! We are working with a lady right now named Irma, who is a decently elderly woman with lots of health problems.  She lives in a little shack in a very tiny villa and is very humble.  She is progressing nicely though!  Irma came to Church yesterday and loved it as did we that she showed up! I am hoping and praying like crazy that she continues to progress!

 

This past week I really gained a huge testimony of the Scriptures! I was just on a scripture high this week, reading in the New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants, and I have really just fallen in love with the scriptures. I know that they are like a huge guide for us, and whenever we need an answer to a question, prayer, and the scriptures will find our answers! =)

 

Looking forward to another awesome week here in Argentina! woot woo!

 

Hope everyone else has a great week as well!

 

STAY CLASSY KIDS!

 

Love,

Elder Wade Draper

BETTER WEEKS AHEAD...6/24/2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Not a whole lot to say this week it has not been one of my best weeks in the Mission so I will just forward pictures and hope that all is doing well.  We did get our Visa's renewed this week so I got to see several of my buds Elder Nielson, Elder Call, and Hermana Leavitt. 

 

Mom about that transcript, just go to LPHS and find Gail Tilley she is in the counseling office and will help you, thanks for taking care of this for me.  How is Grandma doing , I hope well still looking for that letter!

 







Until Next Week,
Keepin' The Faith
Love Elder Wade Draper

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN...6/24/2013

ola familia y amigos,

 

FIRST OFF... HAPPY SWEET 16 TO ELDER DRAPER!!!!

Saturday I completed 16 months in the mish, and also HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY PARENTS!!!! YAYYYY MARRIAGE OF 22 YEARS!

SO I survived the transfer,  still here in Ciudadela YAAA! 

 

Lamentablemente dejó pozos Elder, pero lo puede ya hacer, isn´t demasiado lejos aunque! Estamos todavía en la misma zona gracias a Dios!

   

Unfortunately Elder Wells left, but what can ya do, he isn´t too  far though! We are still in the same zone thank goodness!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

My new companion is Elder Ticino! He is from Uruguay and he is a pretty nice kid, I am so used to Argentine accents, that sometimes I don´t know what he is saying to me because he talks differently, so I guess I have to get used to that! 

  

This past week has been super tiring with all the changes and everything.  Our apartment is the biggest apartment in the Mission and the closest to the offices.  Whenever Elders need to come to Ramos they spend the night at our place!

 

And all the "New Missionaries" that came this last transfer, Elders'  stayed with us, then all the Elders leaving showed up as well! So it was just a tiring weekend of never ending cleaning and making sure everyone was happy! Also the fact that we didn´t have a key to the apartment, as the office needed to use our key, made it even more of  a challenge as we had to share a key between the 2 Companionships and it was just absolutely awful, no one ever meeting up at the same time as planned when we left.

 

One of my best friends in the Mission Elder Roque from Brazil, came and spent a couple of days with us! It was absolutely so much fun catching up and just hanging! We came up with nicknames for each other... he is "El Lobo" because he looks like a wolf, and I am "El Gato" "The Cat", like panther size cat, so that would make two beast in the Mission

 

 

 

    

But yaaa, nothing much in the work this week, still trying to help our investigators progress, we have one guy who is almost there, however I just decided yesterday, that he is not quite there yet, so we are working with him for the 6th of July! We are just going to continue in the work and  keep on fighting right, that's what we do carry on !

 

Well I hope everyone has an outstanding week stay cool here it is really heating up there! Lyndsey have fun on Youth Trek and take could care of your feet and they will be kind back!  Can't wait to hear all the details once your back!  Wyatt GOOD LUCK at eh Firecracker Tournament up in Park City hope it's a little cooler for those multiple games!

 

Well gotta run so stay classy kids, and yes same time next week! =).

 

Love Always Your Adorable, 

Elder Wade Draper

 

JUNE 2013 TRANSFERS...6/21/2013

 

A SUPER CHARGED WEEK IN CIUDADELA...6/17/2013

Hello Family and Friends,

 

Hope everyone had a splendid week, cause I sure as heck did, the bestest of weeks I might say a huge difference then last week, I keep telling everyone on those bad weeks ya' got no where to go but up and yep I was right! 

 

 



First off we prepared all week for our amazing baptism of Cathy!



 

 

In addition  we had our Gira Misional! (Mission Tour) which was super exciting! We got to hear from Elder Viñas of the Seventy! It was like a really cool meeting that we had, because it was like an informal meeting relaxed, and it was an open discussion! We got to learn allot of things that are going to happen in the Mission, stuff that is about to occur but, you will have to read the details as they unfold, super awesome experience, we even got to shake his hand!  He also recapped the historical events that have occurred since we have embarked upon our Mission, like in the last 10 months, such as we have experienced  hearing from 4 apostles... as well as 2 from the 70's , been here during the change of the ages for Missionaries, and participated in the temple re-dedication  September 9,2012 with Henery B. Eyring, First Counselor in the church's First Presidency.  And as if that is not enough blessings our current Prophet Thomas S. Monson  presided over the original temple dedication on January 17, 1986.  I now know the original Buenos Aires Argentina Temple has a total of 17,683 square feet, four ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms, because I've been on those HOLY GROUNDS, how's that for a mouth full!  WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY IN THE BEST MISSION ON THE PLANET VIVA BAW ARG!!! 

 

 

 

  

Ok so Elder Wells and I had a decently good week! We did some service for an Hermana in the Ward  cleaning her water tank above her house, which was quite an experience! We had to drain all the water out of it then clean the mud build up, some serious sludge, and then fill it back up with water. She is like most of the Hermana's is like the funniest!  She has a calling in the Primary, and  so I gave her all those little toys that I got in my package, and she said I was a life saver for the Primary... PRIMARY POINTS!!! WOOT WOO! haha

 

So with all the visa problems resolved we got 2 new Missionaries on Friday, and our apartment is like where all the new Missionaries stay as well as those coming in from far away like the Compo, a little tight these days but loads of laughter and fun!  We had to do like a crazy four way division/spilt on Friday with 2 Missionaries from campo (far away) and the 2 new Missionaries! 

 

So that took place right in the amidst of planning for our baptism and all that good stuff! But with the push from above the baptism went absolutely wonderful! Cathy wanted Elder Wells to baptize her and I had done the last one so all was good! It was just spiritually charged ,awesome because a ton of her family who are inactive members came to it, and the next day THEY ALL came to Church for the Confirmation! So really this baptism was just a huge opportunity to reactivate a bunch of them, which is a goal that we have here in our ward.  It was super awesome really, and the manna from heaven  oh my what a joy!!!!  Now we are just working on getting some more people progressing! We have a ton of potential for July!

 

Transfers are this week so we will see what happens!!!! and...AAAHHHHH... we have a ton of new Missionaries coming in like the rain it is pouring Missionaries here AMEN!!!!!

 

Hope everyone has an awesome week and I truly love and miss ya´ll, get Grandma crackin' on that letter I look so forward to her enthusiasm and since of humor she is firecracker!  

 

 

Love, The Amazing (Or So I Like To Think) LOL

Elder Wade Draper

DIG A LITTLE DEEPER...7/10/2013

Hello Utah,

Not alot of fire here this week, bummed kinda a bland week guess we need to "Dig A Little Deeper" so get the shovel out RIGHT?  I did find out that it looks like we are getting a least 30 of the 80 Missionaries that the buzz is all about, maybe more but 30 I know of for sure!  I can just feel that excitement for them remembering that ever waiting day when we arrived!!!

A SHOUT OUT TO MY BUD JACOB HANNEMANN, drafted to the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round MLB draft... look out Chicago. one of us, the "Men In Black" just a few months back, is headed your way bringing the "Spirit" on a whole new level!!!!  Your the best man take it to the limits!!!!

We just found out that it looks like we will be heading home  March 1st, 2104 so those of us from Highland will land at the SLC airport on that day.  We will tour the last week of our Mission with the President and his wife and then our visa's will expire as we depart the country so looks like we will have to return in the near future to enjoy visiting with those I  leave behind.

I am so looking forward to the Spring/Summer semester with Elder Nielson at BYU, he has just been the "ROCK" since we joined up at the MTC and he has served the people here of  Argentina well!  I am so grateful for his testimony.

Hope Sis, Lyndsey enjoyed EFU in Provo, you know I want to be a counselor when I get back,  EFY is just a great summer kickoff packed with spiritual experiences and meeting friends from all over the world and states.  I bet it was nuts down there with all the construction and the SEA of new Missionaries around the MTC, what a sight, I can only imagine!

Dad-A Special Happy Fathers Day To You and as always the cards in the mail probably come about Christmas and your Bday card at Halloween, the snail mail gotta love it!

Like I said kinda, a  quite week so this email is a little short,  sorry all we but things will surely pick up this week I pray and transfers are right behind this Pday so fingers crossed again, I really like it here, nice place to be for the winter but I know I wll serve wherever he calls me and serve well!!!  

Until next Pday everyone go out there and grab some sun and lets here it for "Sliding Rock" my old friends!!

Love,
Elder Wade Draper  

 

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS...6/3/2013

Hey ya´ll, hope everyone is doing good!


Well we had a pretty amazing week this past week!  Tuesday we had our Zone meeting in the morning... and we had to come dressed in church clothes so they could check to see if we are dressing to "code"for a special meeting that we were going to have. So as we were having our meeting when the rains came down and the floods came up,  Like Crazy bucket of rain!  It just started pouring rain without warning and nobody had brought any jackets or umbrellas or anything! Being the witty one that I am,  I went to the storage closet and got a bunch of garbage bags thinking "This is the only suit that I have that fits me... there is no way in heck that I am getting it soaking wet", so I made an outfit out of garbage bags, and everyone else joined in as well, I thought wow... Gaga would be so proud to see that we made something out of nothing and it worked wonderful ;) haha Our nice  garbage bag tunics and my garbage bag boots kept all dry! =)






Wednesday was just a REAL treat, a  special reunion with Elder Cook!!!! It was soooo awesome!!!! Like absolutely amazing! He talked allot about how we as Missionaries have a responsibility to edify the Church and do everything in our power to do that, whether it is baptizing and getting new people into the Church or working with members who are less active and need the support to come back to Church. Also his wonderful wife, spoke and talked about the Christ like attributes a bit saying, "It is difficult to have the Christ like attributes all the time but at least we should try and have 1 a day"! So for me that is patience and humility, cause not gonna like I am a prideful little bum ;)



But the work is going super well here! We had an awesome experience with one of our investigators, Cathy to be exact.  She has not been coming to Church and we could not figure out why, so we knew that she had like an "iceberg" we like to say, in that  we can see a little bit of the surface but underneath we have no idea how much bigger the iceberg could be.  We dug a little deeper and had a really unreal lesson with her.  She told us that she knew it was important to have faith, but after the death of her husband she lost her faith, and I felt the spirit pressing "Blessing, Blessing" of some sort not sure what but it cam several times during that evening.  When I opened my mouth, literally the spirit just spoke through me and none could deny I was the mouth piece for the Lord right there! I promised her that if she came to Church the following day with a question for God, that she would find her answer, so the next day she came to Church! After the meetings we had a little lesson with her, and she talked about the Relief Society class and how the lesson was about how God´s will isnt always our will an though she remains sad she feels she was ready for baptism! We are going to be working towards a June  15th baptism for  her =) yayyyyy

MORE AWESOME NEWS... Apparently all the VISA PROBLEMS ARE CLEARED!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A TON OF NEW MISSIONARIES THIS TRANSFER AS I HAVE HEARD 80 MAN I AM! SOOOO STOKED!!!!!

 

I am super excited for this upcoming week to see what adventures it brings and what doors we might open here in the field ! =) The work across the NATIONS IS REAL AND THE ARMIES ARE IN MULTITUDES and I am so thankful to be a part of HIS GREAT WORK!! WHAT AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY!!

 

 Love ya´ll so much and REMEMBER BELIEVE AND BE AND STAND IN HOLY PLACES AT ALL TIMES!!!

 

Stay classy kids! Same time next week!!!

 

Love,

ONE OF THE MEN IN BLACK,

 

Elder Wade Draper

MOVE OVER ZUPA'S... THERES A NEW SOUP IN TOWN...5/27/2013

Hello Everyone!

As always I hope everyone had a wonderful week last week, oh and HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!!

Hope everyone is having an awesome long weekend just living the good life with lots of BBQ;)

 

 




My again was yet another super awesome one! Last week I decided I wanted to do some good ol Bama Fried Chicken... cause nobody knows how to fry chicken like I do! ;) and it was soooo good to say the least!

 

 

Our interviews this week were awesome too!  President and I had like really probably one of the best interviews and we talked about some awesome things and just how much progression that I have had in the mission! We also had an interview with the Hermana Carter and I always love having a conversation with the Hermana Carter! She is so fun to talk to! That conversation was about the mission and how it really prepares us as a person for life in general and like never knowing what could happen next but just handling it head on like here in the Mission. It was just an awesome day!

 

 

We had lunch with Marina this past week as well, and she made and unreal Bolivian soup, "zuppa de mani", which is Peanut soup! It was absolutely soooo gooood!!!! Definitely something I need to learn how to make! She she is doing very good and is just so dang nice! She bought us some really nice scarfs and jackets, because she says it's getting colder and wants us warm, and like after every visit she sends us home with like 2 bags of food usually warm, she is really just the best!

 

 

 

 

We are also still working with Eduardo our baptism for June! The poor guy he gets really nervous in Church, because whenever some quotes or mentions a scripture he feels like he has to find it in that very moment and he still doesnt know the Book of Mormon very well, but we are trying to work with him and not let him get discouraged, he really is just an awesome guy as well!

 

 

But in other news..... There was a big old celebration this past weekend in Argentina the 25th of MAY, the day of revolution! woo!!!! Lots of fireworks and everyone eats LOCRO, and it's pretty good!!!!  Its a soup of... cow stomache, cow intestine, corn, beans, and lots of other vegetables, believe it or not I absolutely loved it!  I was especially stoked that I got to eat it that evening because on that particular day our lunch was not locro... so I was kind of bummed... but Heavenly Father seeing fit came through with our last visit of the day.  Luz, the mom of a member, made us  little take home bowels of Locro YAAA, and it was sooo good! Another must make when I get home! =)

 

But yea.. basically that was my week in a nutshell nothing off the hook or anything but still working hard as ever to find those seeking along the way!

 

Hope everyone back home is doing good! Missin yall so much!

 

Stay classy kids, same time next week?

 

Love,

Your Stormn' Mormon

Elder Wade Draper