Rapana, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told the Gold Coast Bulletin : "I am glad I made the decision to go on a mission and I loved every minute of it." "I learnt a lot from helping people physically and spiritually and just learnt a lot more about myself and what I can do to be a better person."
Now, home from his mission to England, Rapana is resuming a professional football career. Before serving as a missionary he played rugby league for the Gold Coast Titans. He has switched football codes, signing with professional rugby union club the Western Force.
Jordan, a young sensation at age nineteen, faced mounting pressure not to serve a mission. Indications are, however, that the mission has not dampened the "natural talent that saw him capture the imagination of rugby league fans in 2008," according to The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Neither has it dampened his relationship with the girl he left behind.
Earlier this month, on the grounds of the Latter-day Saint Brisbane Temple, Rapana asked her to marry him.
She said "yes."