Elder Draper has a temper! Who knew?!

Hey mom!

 I actually didn't get any more snow! Thank Goodness. No I really shouldn't complain, whenever I'm cold I just think of good ol' Eh'lder Baldridge in -35 degree weather! That's ridiculous! I like how he said that the work stops at -40... hahaha like -35 isn't already cold enough! I got my package like last Tuesday! It came way super quick! Thank you!!! It’s funny though because as of up until now, I still have been using the Japanese soap so I just have this huge pile of dove bars just waiting to be used. Also thank you so much for the floss! It was badly needed. I am healthy! I wouldn't say I'm warm but relative to Jared... I’m toasty! 

 My companion and I are still getting along for the most part. We are having more fun but we still have some moments.  It’s not just missionaries that don't have ovens. They just don't have ovens in Japan! It’s crazy! Our mission has a portal on the internet, actually some extremely talented missionaries from a couple of a years ago made it, and it has recipes on how to make cake and mac and cheese and other oven kind of stuff in a rice cooker. I haven't tried any of it yet but it looks interesting! Also Thank you so much for the Captain Crunch!!! I love it. I am eating it very slowly though. Not going to lie though, after eating Japanese food for so long, the mac and cheese wasn't very good. I guess I have been so accustomed to eating pretty healthy food that takes at least like 45 minutes to prepare every meal!

 So later in the night of last Pday, we went and visited a guy I met on the train. He gave me his meishi. His calling card. Those are way big here, it is a huge respect to both give and receive one. But he didn't tell us to come over or anything, but we decided to do it anyways! His name is Ishikawa San. He has like the biggest house I have ever seen in Japan. We knocked on his door and he didn't answer. Then we knocked again and he opened up a sliding door and was all like "Nan desho ka!?" What do you want? And then I said "Ohisashiburi!" "Long time no see!" and he said "densha de atta hito desu ka?" "Are you the person I met on the train?"  he let us right in! He showed us all over his house! He is a potter! He has some AMAZING pieces of art he has made! He didn't want to talk about Christianity really but he was totally willing to be our friend! He ended up giving us some bowls he made however many years ago. He told us to come over anytime! He is way nice and he has like the nicest house I have ever seen so far here.  Pictures later. I eat Captain crunch in his bowl.

Our microwave is awful.  And yes I have a washer and a dryer! Everyone has a washer but it s very rare to have a drier! There are dry cleaners EVERYWHERE! I haven’t used it yet though. I really really need to though. My bike gets them dirty. Almost all of my pants have ripped from my bike. But I just have to remember to tuck them into my socks and they are fine. But I can only wear suits right now. I just sewed one pair of pants the other day. I love sewing!

While it is still fresh in mind, we had a yoshioka san randomly call us this week and told us that he wanted to learn about Christianity and our church! We were like "Sweet! We will see you tomorrow!" So we met him at the church and he is awesome! We taught him all about the restoration and God and Christ. Elder Ishikawa showed him like a 20 minute video, I thought was too long but oh well, and then asked him to be baptized! He said eventually he wants to but as of right now, he isn't ready. So that was a miracle!!!

Also before I forget, I can't exactly remember if I have already told you or not, but an Eikaiwa student who always is way rude. Handed his homework in to Elder Christensen and he accidently dropped it. He flipped out and was going off about how all Americans are prideful and have no respect for anyone. Elder Christensen asked him to leave like 5 times. But he didn't leave; he just kept screaming and him. Everybody was WAY uncomfortable. I stood next to Elder Christensen and he asked him one more time to leave and never come back unless he will follow the rules that he agreed to. He kept yelling. I was getting ticked. I don't even know what I would have done if it was me from the beginning. But I stepped up probably 6 inches away from his face and said "Get out now." and my face was flaming red. I kind of did a chest bump with him and I think he understood that I was probably going to hit him. Because I really wanted to. He said " ok." and he left. It was WAY INTENSE. (anyone who knows how mild manner Haydon is should be laughing right now! I did! But then again I have seen him get mad so I guess I can picture this)

That is crazy about my room! (It’s covered in wedding stuff so it’s a good thing he isn’t here)  I have now had about 5 dreams of me waking up and I am home already. How long have I been out??? It is flying SO FAST!!! I think you or dad said I was approaching my 6th month. There is no way that is right. It's so weird.

Today we went to Sweets Paradise in iu basho. It was ridiculous. It was like 16 dollars for an all you can eat pasta and cake. That's it. To get soda or pizza it was like 10 more dollars. Japan is crazy about their price. 

Yesterday we ate at the Toma family! He made rice and curry and salad and lots of ice-cream and cake. It was his son’s birthday, It was Sister tanimoto's birthday a while back, and it is Elder Ishikawas birthday tomorrow! He and his daughter is fluent in English. She got her mission call to the Temple Square mission! Her name is Elisa Toma! Go see her! She has glasses and is Japanese haha. I don’t know when she leaves though. She is still here as of now!

Also last night while going to the Toma family we ran into some other people also going to their house. I sat next to Brother ishikawa, not my companion, he is going to the Fukuoka mission later. He was really impressed with how well I can speak Japanese! He was way shocked when I said I was a transfer 3 missionary. We had like a completely normal teenager conversation! It rocked! Then coming home, we ran into 4 Americans on the train! They are all in the air force! One knows Mountain Home very well and he is LDS and he has a son in New Zealand on his mission! I love finding Americans! It is seriously so fun. 

Women's conference sounds like a blast! That should be way fun. 

This week I have been learning a lot about virtue. In order to have the characteristics that a missionary needs, we must strive to live on a higher plan of thought. A higher standard of living. In 1 Colossians 3 it says something like those who follow Christ have that responsibility to rise with him. To stand above the world. To be a standard to which those who are lost can find the light of Christ. We have a huge and awesome responsibility as members of Christ's true church to reach out to all of those who are lost and know not where to find the gospel of Jesus Christ, the answer to all of their problems, because they know not where to find it. Here in Japan it is about on average after 8 contacts a random person has with a missionary before they take lessons. We try really hard to get referrals from members, we ask "who know's you are a member around here?" That way we can skip a few of those contacts because they have already met LDS people several times! Then from that we have a higher chance of finding those who are prepared. This last week we had a worldwide broadcast with all of the missionaries. Our commission, as given by Christ himself, is to teach repentance and baptize them in the  name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. As we do ALL we can to find those who are prepared, we will be able to be an effective tool in the hands of our loving Father in Heaven who so desperately desire that ALL of his children make it back to Him safely. Please prayerfully select people to introduce to the missionaries. That will help the work go along much quicker. 

I love you all so so so much!!!

Elder Draper

fun fact: President Wada created universal studios Japan!

P.S. I am getting Elder Lunt from Arizona as my new companion! I get him this next Thursday! 2 transfers is pretty much the max with one person. But It alsoisn’t really rare or common to switch after one transfer.