Okay here is the letter, I hope you all get it. Myldsmail is not very easy to work. Or not as easy as gmail at least as far as sending stuff together.
It's awesome to get e-mails from all of you! I'm really blessed with a great family.
Well everything is going pretty good. Everything is pretty much set for the Hernandez Family's baptism this saturday. They are all excited. Last saturday we taught Chastity, Tithing, and followed up with the Dad to see if he's living the Word of Wisdom. Everything went great. There's a member that has helped us a ton - Hermano Prieto. He's from Brazil and he really speaks portuguese but his spanish is good. But yeah I've really gained a testimony of how members can really help people progress. The Prieto family stops by the hernandez familys house and they invite them over for dinner and come to the lessons with us. And it's amazing how smooth things started to go since he and the bishop started getting really involved.
So mom that's probably why the sister missionaries are encouraging you to talk to matthew's mom and invite her to church. Something else that could help you too is role playing. So like practice with hayley or cammie or dad how you will invite her. It may feel dumb or whatever but if you can role play it perfectly then when you do talk to her about it it will go well. Plus you can make it fun too, like hayley or cammie or dad can do the right accent and everything.
But anyways i know i said that i was going to send pictures, but i still have to take some, its difficult because we dont really have time to stop and take a picture of the stratosphere when were trying to make it to an appointment. But ill get some eventually. And for sure ill get some pictures this weekend, our district is pretty blessed. we have ten baptisms this saturday.
But no i havent gotten a package yet, thanks for sending me one though! all the mail you send goes to the mission office then we get all our mail from the week on tuesdays when we have zone meetings.
Dad that's sweet about BYU, I'm excited for them.
My new companion is pretty funny - elder bloom. Hes a little crazy - i told james, he has ADHD and his girlfriend just got called to Chile - shes going on a mission.
Bryan wrote me a letter that said hes leaving the MTC in a couple days but then he didnt give me the address of his mission so i cant write him back... i love bryan.
but im way super duper excited for the baptisms this week, i feel so lucky to be able to help teach the hernandez family - they are so awesome, all their kids are so well behaved.
Hey but I love you all and thanks for your letters.
Chrissy Catlett is still writing me, but annie still hasnt written me back from that letter i sent her 3 months ago. I really hope she doesnt not write me until like right before i get home or whatever. thats happening to my zone leader, elder llewelyn, this girl didnt write him his whole mission, but now hes got like 4 months left and all the sudden he got a letter from her... but im not worried about it, shes just missin out on pretty much the best thing since frozen broccoli
anyways love you all, hope everything is going good. this past week nathan got to Mexico, im excited for him.
k love you bye.
elder william draper
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I'm really discouraged from writing you all letters when you don't write me back, because I don't know if you're receiving the ones I write to you. I got a letter from Mom yesterday that was dated July 19th, so thanks for writing me Mom. And thanks Hayley for writing me, it was awesome to get a letter from you. But hey it's really easy for me to get e-mails and then just write you all back. Then I look forward to my Thursday e-mailing time because I get to hear from you. And I have an hour to do it all.
I'm just talking about the past three p-days because I've sent e-mails and haven't gotten anything back. I don't know if you all are writing letters or what or just really busy, I don't really know what's going on.
So have you been getting my e-mails? I understand if you have been really busy from work and stuff and haven't been able to write me. But maybe you can just send me a little two line e-mail telling me that you all are doing alright and that you're getting my e-mails.
By the way Happy Birthday Dad and Cammie!!! I hope you have an awesome birthday. I'll be thinking about you two on the 7th and on the 9th, respectively.
I'm having fun teaching the gospel and it hasn't been so hot recently. Only like 103... So that's a huge blessing. I've started running with my companion in the mornings and that's now a really enjoyable part of my day. Right now something I'm working on is memorizing everybodys name in the ward and all of the investigators. Also I'm still working at Spanish, it's coming more and more. And I'm learning a ton from my trainer. He's an awesome teacher. He goes home in less than 4 weeks. I think he's pretty excited about that, but he's a good missionary, I think that he'll miss it a lot. The first two weeks were tough, but I feel like I'm enjoying myself more and more. Some days are more fun than others when we talk to a lot of people.
A kinda cool thing happened at a ward activity on Monday. There was a game organized, it was a kind of relay race. The boys were in one line and the girls were in the other line. All of them had a balloon. and accross the cultural hall there were two chairs. The kids had to one at a time run over to the chairs and sit on their balloons to pop them. it was really funny watching all the kids. So anyways, it got to the very end and the girls all finished, but there was one two year old boy left to go. But everybody said the girls had already won, but he started crying so then everybody was like oh nevermind you can still go and do it, hurry go. This happened all in spanish and happened kind of fast. So then the boy stopped crying and got serious so he ran over and the ward mission leader helped him pop his balloon. So then everybody around watching started cheering ( all the parents were in there two but on the sidelines watching) then the little boy ran back to his parents (which his parents are investigators by the way) and the little boy was pumping both his fists up and down like he had just finished a marathon or something. maybe it's not that funny to you but it was to me.
ANyways, i love you all and i hope that cammie and dad have good birthdays.
whelp please send me something.
Elder draper
I'm just talking about the past three p-days because I've sent e-mails and haven't gotten anything back. I don't know if you all are writing letters or what or just really busy, I don't really know what's going on.
So have you been getting my e-mails? I understand if you have been really busy from work and stuff and haven't been able to write me. But maybe you can just send me a little two line e-mail telling me that you all are doing alright and that you're getting my e-mails.
By the way Happy Birthday Dad and Cammie!!! I hope you have an awesome birthday. I'll be thinking about you two on the 7th and on the 9th, respectively.
I'm having fun teaching the gospel and it hasn't been so hot recently. Only like 103... So that's a huge blessing. I've started running with my companion in the mornings and that's now a really enjoyable part of my day. Right now something I'm working on is memorizing everybodys name in the ward and all of the investigators. Also I'm still working at Spanish, it's coming more and more. And I'm learning a ton from my trainer. He's an awesome teacher. He goes home in less than 4 weeks. I think he's pretty excited about that, but he's a good missionary, I think that he'll miss it a lot. The first two weeks were tough, but I feel like I'm enjoying myself more and more. Some days are more fun than others when we talk to a lot of people.
A kinda cool thing happened at a ward activity on Monday. There was a game organized, it was a kind of relay race. The boys were in one line and the girls were in the other line. All of them had a balloon. and accross the cultural hall there were two chairs. The kids had to one at a time run over to the chairs and sit on their balloons to pop them. it was really funny watching all the kids. So anyways, it got to the very end and the girls all finished, but there was one two year old boy left to go. But everybody said the girls had already won, but he started crying so then everybody was like oh nevermind you can still go and do it, hurry go. This happened all in spanish and happened kind of fast. So then the boy stopped crying and got serious so he ran over and the ward mission leader helped him pop his balloon. So then everybody around watching started cheering ( all the parents were in there two but on the sidelines watching) then the little boy ran back to his parents (which his parents are investigators by the way) and the little boy was pumping both his fists up and down like he had just finished a marathon or something. maybe it's not that funny to you but it was to me.
ANyways, i love you all and i hope that cammie and dad have good birthdays.
whelp please send me something.
Elder draper
___________________________________________________________
That's awesome that work sounds busy for you mom! I'm so excited. Are you enjoying it?
The Hernandez family is set for baptism. The dad turned out to be really excited about the church, and he came last Sunday!!! He's very humble but really smart. He just barely turned 39 and he has 9 Children? isn't that crazy. And there were actually two other younger kids that passed away. So it would have been a family of 13 had the two younger ones not passed away. Their names are Angel, Carmen - the parents. Kids from oldest to youngest Janet, Guadalupe, Erick, Miguel, Jorge, Angel, Maricela, Jose, Perla.... Wow big family huh?
Janet and Guadalupe like the book of mormon, they have a lot of faith and have already received an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith is a prophet!
Well that's about it for today.
I love you all Grandma, James, Whit, Devon, MOm, dad, aunt diane, hayley, cammie, and riley.
Will you tell Hayley to send me her e-mail address? then i can reply to her letter and she'll get an answer quickly.
Tell everybody they can send me e-mails, ill get back to them the thursday around 11 or 12 West Coast time.
Get an e-mail to me by then and ill write you back.
Elder William Draper
PS dont worry about me getting burned, ive been wearing sunscreen and today i bought SPF 85+ sunscreen, haha, i didnt know that had that high of protection.
My Frist Two Days
How are you all? I'm doing great! My first two days have been awesome. It's been hot. Everybody says it's not that hot though.
My trainer is awesome, he's from Washington, his name is Elder Dallin Law. He goes home next transfer. We're teaching a family of 11 - La familia Hernandez. They're awesome. I've met a ton of people. All the missionaries in my zone are really awesome. My companion is the district leader of our district. I really like the President. I've already been sunburned - only on a portion of my arms though. I've been sunscreening up my face pretty good. Spanish is still hard. But I feel like I'm learning more and more every day.
And so today is my P-day, Thursday.
I'm sad that I won't see my old district again for awhile, but it's alright I really like everyone in my district now, they are all really mature and funny. Today we're playing soccer. I really like doing what I'm doing. I've sweat more in the past two days than I think I did all of last summer. And I'm working out a system so that I'm never dehydrated. I have that camel-back you gave me mom, and so I'm using that.
In my apartment two other English speaking Elders are also living with Elder Law and I. It's a nice apartment, the two Elders are really nice, one of them keeps a pet black widow, so I'm a little bit nervous about that. But it's kinda cool, we have roaches in the apartment, and so every once in a while I guess they feed the black widow (I think we're naming it sparkita, kinda like sparky but it's a girl so sparkita) roaches, and the black widow has been living in it's little clear tuperware container for about three months now. I would ask them to throw it away, but I think the one Elder is really attached to it. Yeah, I don't remember the other two English speaking Elder's names, but they're playing soccer today so I'll make sure I get their names. I've memorized the names of la familia hernandez - angel, carmen, Janet, Erick, Guadalupe, Miguel, Jorge, angel, marisela, Jose, and perla. hehe. But we haven't taught the dad yet, he's always been working.
Anyways, I'm in a really sweet part of town, it overlooks all of the valley, and we're right by the temple. In fact, right now I'm in the church building directly next to the temple. The Las Vegas temple is really pretty. I saw Nico - you know from our ward? He looks good. How much longer does he have I wonder? I also so another person from Wake Forest ward. I think he's Spanish speaking as well, so we could end up being companions. Unless he goes home soon. I'm way excited to be here. I talked with Justin the last night I was in the MTC, I think he's doing pretty well. I think he might be a little bored though because he shaved a big nike swoosh in his leg hair. Then on his other leg he has a big H - probably for Hales. Haha, it's kinda funny. Don't tell Jeanette or Bob though, I don't want them to worry or anything.
I've only gotten one nosebleed while I've been here! I'm excited about that, and it was at night so it wasn't that big of a deal. If I had been on bike 2 miles away from our apartment that would have stunk way bad. So I think I'm working out a system for that too. I think I'm gonna vasaline it up in the morning and at night, and maybe ill take some vasaline with me if I feel like my nose is dry during the day. I can't believe how dirty I've gotten the past two days I've been here. And I can't believe it's already been two days. It's gone by fast.
I'm kinda bummed though because I don't have a pillow, I've just been using my dirty clothes bag to sleep on. I'll get one soon though I'm sure.
My companion is a really good teacher. He pulls most of the weight during conversations and lessons. But I've been able to contribute a little, in both Spanish and English, so I'm grateful for that. Probably 50% of our contacts and lessons have been in English and 50% in Spanish. It's kinda cool to switch it up like that. I'm pretty blessed because I've been understanding a lot and I've been able to communicate a lot. I like the Bishop in our ward, he told us to baptize. So hopefully we'll be able to do that.
And hey, you can e-mail me now - I have like an hour for e-mail and stuff.... Plenty of time. Also, Any family members can e-mail me, and I'll be able to e-mail them back.
So let me know how you all are doing. I'm sorry that I didn't catch many of you on the phone on Tuesday this week, I was really happy I got to talk to Mom though. I had memorized 6051134 and 6057206 so I called those to numbers, i think james and hayleys, but neither of them picked up. Also i called the home phone but nobody picked up.
I've eaten some interesting food so far. Some genuine Mexican food. And my stomach handled it great. Although i at these like taquito thingys and they were not good. They were filled with like 30 percent onions and 40 percent potatoes and im not sure what else. But also, the investigator, Ramon, had an open bag of dogfood over on the kitchen counter and he doesn't have a dog. So, I just ate a little and asked if I could take the rest home with me. But that didn't make me sick either, so that was a blessing.
But this investigator, Ramon, is really nice. He believes in the Book of Mormon, but he's a little bit confused on the Godhead and he doesn't understand Mary the Mother of Jesus. And he speaks spanish, so he's a really challenging investigator, also too because he's smart and he understands a lot of doctrine he's challenging.
Anyways, I love you all, Hope your summer is going good!
Bye, Elder Draper
My trainer is awesome, he's from Washington, his name is Elder Dallin Law. He goes home next transfer. We're teaching a family of 11 - La familia Hernandez. They're awesome. I've met a ton of people. All the missionaries in my zone are really awesome. My companion is the district leader of our district. I really like the President. I've already been sunburned - only on a portion of my arms though. I've been sunscreening up my face pretty good. Spanish is still hard. But I feel like I'm learning more and more every day.
And so today is my P-day, Thursday.
I'm sad that I won't see my old district again for awhile, but it's alright I really like everyone in my district now, they are all really mature and funny. Today we're playing soccer. I really like doing what I'm doing. I've sweat more in the past two days than I think I did all of last summer. And I'm working out a system so that I'm never dehydrated. I have that camel-back you gave me mom, and so I'm using that.
In my apartment two other English speaking Elders are also living with Elder Law and I. It's a nice apartment, the two Elders are really nice, one of them keeps a pet black widow, so I'm a little bit nervous about that. But it's kinda cool, we have roaches in the apartment, and so every once in a while I guess they feed the black widow (I think we're naming it sparkita, kinda like sparky but it's a girl so sparkita) roaches, and the black widow has been living in it's little clear tuperware container for about three months now. I would ask them to throw it away, but I think the one Elder is really attached to it. Yeah, I don't remember the other two English speaking Elder's names, but they're playing soccer today so I'll make sure I get their names. I've memorized the names of la familia hernandez - angel, carmen, Janet, Erick, Guadalupe, Miguel, Jorge, angel, marisela, Jose, and perla. hehe. But we haven't taught the dad yet, he's always been working.
Anyways, I'm in a really sweet part of town, it overlooks all of the valley, and we're right by the temple. In fact, right now I'm in the church building directly next to the temple. The Las Vegas temple is really pretty. I saw Nico - you know from our ward? He looks good. How much longer does he have I wonder? I also so another person from Wake Forest ward. I think he's Spanish speaking as well, so we could end up being companions. Unless he goes home soon. I'm way excited to be here. I talked with Justin the last night I was in the MTC, I think he's doing pretty well. I think he might be a little bored though because he shaved a big nike swoosh in his leg hair. Then on his other leg he has a big H - probably for Hales. Haha, it's kinda funny. Don't tell Jeanette or Bob though, I don't want them to worry or anything.
I've only gotten one nosebleed while I've been here! I'm excited about that, and it was at night so it wasn't that big of a deal. If I had been on bike 2 miles away from our apartment that would have stunk way bad. So I think I'm working out a system for that too. I think I'm gonna vasaline it up in the morning and at night, and maybe ill take some vasaline with me if I feel like my nose is dry during the day. I can't believe how dirty I've gotten the past two days I've been here. And I can't believe it's already been two days. It's gone by fast.
I'm kinda bummed though because I don't have a pillow, I've just been using my dirty clothes bag to sleep on. I'll get one soon though I'm sure.
My companion is a really good teacher. He pulls most of the weight during conversations and lessons. But I've been able to contribute a little, in both Spanish and English, so I'm grateful for that. Probably 50% of our contacts and lessons have been in English and 50% in Spanish. It's kinda cool to switch it up like that. I'm pretty blessed because I've been understanding a lot and I've been able to communicate a lot. I like the Bishop in our ward, he told us to baptize. So hopefully we'll be able to do that.
And hey, you can e-mail me now - I have like an hour for e-mail and stuff.... Plenty of time. Also, Any family members can e-mail me, and I'll be able to e-mail them back.
So let me know how you all are doing. I'm sorry that I didn't catch many of you on the phone on Tuesday this week, I was really happy I got to talk to Mom though. I had memorized 6051134 and 6057206 so I called those to numbers, i think james and hayleys, but neither of them picked up. Also i called the home phone but nobody picked up.
I've eaten some interesting food so far. Some genuine Mexican food. And my stomach handled it great. Although i at these like taquito thingys and they were not good. They were filled with like 30 percent onions and 40 percent potatoes and im not sure what else. But also, the investigator, Ramon, had an open bag of dogfood over on the kitchen counter and he doesn't have a dog. So, I just ate a little and asked if I could take the rest home with me. But that didn't make me sick either, so that was a blessing.
But this investigator, Ramon, is really nice. He believes in the Book of Mormon, but he's a little bit confused on the Godhead and he doesn't understand Mary the Mother of Jesus. And he speaks spanish, so he's a really challenging investigator, also too because he's smart and he understands a lot of doctrine he's challenging.
Anyways, I love you all, Hope your summer is going good!
Bye, Elder Draper
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