We have his flight plans! It's getting closer and closer!

Hey!!! 

  

We got back to our apartment about 10:33pm on Wednesday. There's a new member who has a lot of family problems. We talked to him since like 9-10:33. He kept getting so mad at things that really had nothing to do with the actual problem. He just kept trying to put all his problems on other people. It was so weird. It was so sad to see him so upset. It was a very interesting experience though because I honestly felt like I could see him as God saw him. There was just this furious man in front of me but I just felt so much love for him and desire for him to listen to what God was trying to tell him.  

  

On Thursday we had splits with the assistants to the president. Right now it's Elder Ishikawa (my second companion) and Elder Nelson. So we went back into Kichijoji (we've been doing that a whole lot lately). Elder Nelson and I talked to a ton of people and gave out three copies of the Book of Mormon! It was really fun. At one point we went to Mitaka Eki to do a kubarikai (passing out flyers at a train station). An American comes up to me and just starts talking to me. He was probably in his 40s or so. He lived in Japan for the past 25 years. He was born catholic but then turned atheist. Then he learned about Buddhism and wanted to go to Japan to widen his horizons (for some reason I keep wanting to say 'widen his Verizon's'). Since he has been in Japan he was visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses and started believing in God again. It was around that time that he met Elder Rose! He asked me, pointing to elder Nelson in the distance passing out flyers, "Is that Rose?"  "You know elder Rose!?" I replied. That's initially how it all started. I learned about how he had known one Mormon from Utah and he was always so nice and kind to everybody. He said that there is something special about LDS people. "You guys are always shining. You're just so shiny." I shared with him that I was so happy because I know that God loves us and that this life is all part of a bigger Plan of Salvation given by our Heavenly Father. He lives in Thailand right now but he wants the missionaries in Thailand to come and visit him.  

  

We had Stake a Conference yesterday and I interpreted for President Warnick into English! He didn't have a copy of his talk or anything because he basically just thought about things he wanted to say the night before. But I called him the night before and he gave me some scriptures he would probably share. So I got them all pre-marked and ready to go. There were about 5 of us interpreters all together. President Warnick's talk was actually much much shorter than I thought it would be. He's really good at sticking to the schedule so I think the speaker before him took more time so then he made his short. But it was really good and fun! I just thought it was so funny to think back to like my second transfer in a Fussa when I was given the opportunity to interpret for one  missionary in a 6 person district meeting and I was terrified and I stumbled all over the place. Now I interpreted a full talk in a stake conference! That's nothing to say of me, that's God's blessings being manifested. God is amazing! He truly is always willing to help us if we are willing to work with Him.  

  

I got your present! It was the best! Thank you so much! I love the green salad. It was very natsukashii.  

  

I got my flight plans while I was in Kichijoji! Pretty weird than I have those already.  

  

Lessons are good! We are done teaching lessons 1-4 and now we have to teach lesson 5 (which is actually broken up into several different lessons) and then he will get baptized on the 13th of May! He is so excited! Transfer calls are this next Saturday so I don't know yet. Man I hope I'm still here.  

  

I'm so glad that the tests and the surgery and everything were a success! Yes the whole world was praying for you. People in my district and president warnick and sister warnick, and me, everyone was praying for you. It makes me happy that you are happy as well. You are a very special person and we all love you so much. So they did do chemo right? Ya I can't believe that Aubree is already home! Mission's always go faster when you look at other missionaries. It's so weird to know that she was in Denmark for a year and a half already!  

  

Is the dinosaur hands a part of chemo therapy? (I told him I have to use my hands like a T-Rex because the incisions make it hard to use my arms. He’s having a hard time realizing there hasn’t been any chemo yet) Haha that cracks me up that the boys were disappointed that you weren't bald yet haha. (yes my sweet grandsons have asked when I will be bald. You gotta love their honesty) How are you doing with that? Have you started losing any hair yet?  I love you, I'm praying for you and I'm so glad that you are taking everything so well.  

  

I love you Mom! 

  

Elder Draper 

 ドレーパー長老

A little kid gave him a jelly bean

(So before you read this I need to tell you, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and we just told Haydon. His response is in this letter. We hadn’t told anyone because we needed to tell him first. Anyway, I’m good and surgery is tomorrow. All is well. Sorry if this is the first time you have heard this news.) 

  

Hello mom!  We are continuing to meet our neighbors several times and becoming their friends! We met one guy 3 times in one day and stopped to talk to him every time. He was wearing a Bridgestone jacket and so I commented that my dad works at a tire shop. So he remembers me as Elder Bridgestone haha. He still can't remember Doreipa (my Japanese name) but he is working on it! His 8 year old dog's name is Lala.   It's not the rainy season yet, but it sure feels like it! I think it has rained probably 5 days out of 7. And it's getting so warm! We get to shed the suits and long sleeves on May 1st. Oh happy day. But I'm not going to even try to pretend that it's unbearable because I know that Tanner's mission is WAY hotter than here, all the time it seems like!   Happy Easter! We made a poster that says "What is Easter?" And we went and held it up in front of the train station and were able to talk to people and share the new Easter video! It went pretty well! I love Easter. I love that our family always is involved in something that brings friends and family together during holidays. Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, etc. I love our family and I love our friends so much. Without family and friends, life isn't very fun. I'm glad that I have the best ones ever.   This week I was reading the Book of Mormon, specifically I was studying the leadership qualities of Alma the older in Mosiah 23. I loved how in verse 6 it states that he was such a good leader and loved by everyone that they wanted him to be king. But I loved verse 7. He responds in the negative to them making him king. He then goes on to touch on the fact that he has seen monarchy gone wrong first hand. And he talks of how he himself was caught in a snare. In other words, he knew his weakness and he avoided all situations where he might be tempted. I just thought that was a very interesting that that was his first time I ever had that thought. The Book of Mormon changes as you read it in different periods in your life. I've read that scripture hundreds of times probably and never had at thought until now. You can learn a lot from the Book of Mormon and receive power to follow it and know it's true.  Lately I have found myself getting irritated at little pointless things. Like people walking too slow or too fast. I decided that well one, it isn't even a problem so I shouldn't get mad anyways, and two that I was going to make little action plans to follow when something like that happened. So I prayed and made a super simple plan that if they walk slow, I'll slow down to be right next to them. If they walk so fast I can't keep up, I'll run! If they asks why I'll just say it's because I want to walk with you and not behind or in front. So I did that. And as simple as it may sound, it literally changed our how I think. It was so weird how well it worked!, As small as that may have been, it brought a sense of love and patience. I was thinking about unity and I thought about how I never really had thought about it before and how amazing unity really is. This week I sang Hymn 227 There is sunshine in my soul today, I added these words in a "fifth verse" to help me remember unity. "There is oneness in our souls today, where joy and love abide. Far from us are angry thoughts and deeds, when kindness is our guide. " 

  

I don't know really how to react to that news! (The “C” word) You're right and you know me so well! Exactly at the parts I started to freak out you told me to not panic. I'm glad they found it early and that it is really small. I'm sure I have questions but I can't think of any. Do you know how intense the chemo will be? I just know that usually that is worse than the actual cancer. That's the part that gets me. But you are strong, and I know it's not a big deal so I'm fine. Thanks for telling me. I'll call President Warnick as soon as I get home. I love the Loftus couple SO MUCH! Oh that makes me so happy that you talked to them! Did you get to talk to Elder Loftus also? (We called the mission office before telling Haydon, we wanted them to know what he was going through) 

  

It makes me so happy that you guys are a family the missionaries feel comfortable around. For some reason it still seems weird to me that there's a mission like the one I'm , but in my hometown haha! I'm glad you have the missionaries over. It's seriously a huge blessing to get to go to Members homes and be with them.  

  

Sister Loftus sent me an email notifying me that there is a package for me on the way! So that could be your package. I don't know if she does that for all the missionaries, but even if she does it always makes me feel good that she is looking out for me. Like the one day when we had to go to Kofu when I was in the office. We're still on the road and it was about 10:00 at night or so, later than we had planned and Elder Loftus had been worried about us to check up on his kids to see if we were safe hahahaha. I love them! 

  

Ya the temple will close! It will close in October and it will be down for three years! But apparently it will re open around the time of the Olympics so it will be perfect reason to come back! 

  

This week something happened that made my day. We had just visited Kamakura last Monday and had fun. We were on the train and there were a ton of little kids who were staring at us white people. I said hello but they didn't really respond. When the train stopped and they were getting off, one of them ran up to us and gave us each a single jelly bean without saying anything, and then he ran off the train. It melted my heart. It was way better than any trip to Kamakura.  

 I love you so much and I testify that God lives, Jesus Christ is his perfect son who came to earth, lived a perfect life, performed the atonement, died, and resurrected so that we could be brought back to the Father. I love Easter time, and to be able to share that message with everybody all the time.   I love you mom! You are always in my prayers.    ドレーパー長老 

  

Isn’t our son awesome!!! He’s a great missionary. I knew he would accept this information and stay positive.

4 months to go!

Hey there mom and dad! 

  

Happy Birthday dad! I hope you had a good day. Thank you so much for the Christ-like home that you and mom raised us all in. You two are the biggest and greatest examples of the Savior that I can think of. I love you so so much. It's interesting how much I loved you before but now, being away and being so focused on the Savior, I love you two and respect so much more.  

 We did teach quite a few lessons this week! His name is Tsunoda and we were able to move his baptismal date up to May 13! It's still after transfers so there is still the possibility that I won't be here. But that was the earliest he could get baptized! He was SO excited when he found out he could get baptized sooner! 

 I'm so glad the missionaries came over to help! How long have they been out on missions? I don't know why, I think it is so interesting to think about how some missionaries get called to the Mountain Home area. I can't wait to work with missionaries at home too! The field looks way good though! It sure will be easier to take care of.  

 Tripp is looking so big! I love my nephews and niece so much! 

 Ya so yesterday and the day before we had general conference! It was SO good! I had more questions answered in this conference than in any other conference before. I swear the whole general conference was made around things that I needed. Tsunoda came for the Sunday morning session as well. We were able to have a quick lesson with him about prophets and obedience! We moved up his baptismal date to May 13th! That was pretty exciting! 

 Last Monday, after p-day, we were walking around Kamiooka eki and we saw a guy across the street laying face down on the sidewalk with one leg kind of entangled in the small railing along the road. We quickly crossed the road and ran over to him. We poked him a couple times but he didn't move. W kept asking if he was ok or not but only his hand would twitch every now and then.  We asked if he needed the police and he slowly nodded his head without saying anything. So we sprinted through the eki to the nearest police box and got the cops. Then they rushed over to him and helped him.  

 We were very busy with zone Conference and zone meeting and general conference this week! It was so fun but busy! I gave a training on teaching like the Savior. I love my Savior so much! When we come to a real knowledge of whole he is and the things he does for us and the reason behind those things, life becomes much more peaceful and beautiful. I love the scripture in Mosiah 18:30 how it says, talking about Mormon (the place), "the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to a knowledge of their redeemer". When we focus our lives on Jesus Christ, life is just better. Even if the circumstances around us may not be ideal, we can feel heavenly peace inside us.  

 A brother in the ward asked me to maybe interpret from Japanese to English in stake conference in a couple of weeks! I am pretty nervous but apparently we will get the talks in advance and have time to translate them to English before hand, so that's good.  

 By the way! Next week is temple P Day so it will be on Tuesday, not Monday!  

 This week we left the apartment to go find people and after we prayed, walking towards the stairs, I had a thought to go a different way than we usually went. We got to the bottom of the stairs and I asked elder Yoshikawa if we could go right instead of left like we usually do. We started walking that way and I knew exactly why we were walking that way because I had another distinct image of a man we had met the other day pop up in my head. We turned a couple corners and in the shadows there was a guy with his back turned to us. I yelled out to him "good evening!" He turned to face us but because it was night and he was standing in the shadows I still couldn't see his face, but I knew it was the guy I was looking for. I said, "do you remember me?" And he said, "yes, I remember." We didn't talk much more than that, but I know that the God led me by the Holy Ghost to find this man. He was just about to go into his house too so if we had been even a couple seconds late, we wouldn't have been able to talk to him.  

 I love this work! I love being led by the spirit and inviting others to come unto Christ. I love Kamiooka. I think I have grown more in this area than any area I have served in before. I know Christ lives, I know this is his work and that he guides it.  

 During conference I just kept having impression after impression that these people really are called of God and that this is his church to bring people back to him, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that we have purpose in this life. I love you all and I know that God loves you as well.  

  

Elder Draper 

 ドレーパー長老