Friends and Family,
Again, it was another great week here in
Buena Vista! It was full of good laughs, spiritual highs, and a little bit of
stress! I can't believe Thanksgiving is this week! Let me tell ya, time is
flying! It's amazing how much I have learned about myself, how to interact with
others, and the Gospel. The church is true!!
Tuesday- We had exchanges Tuesday! I had
the opportunity to serve with Elder Carpenter for a day. He's a great kid and
loves to work. We had Temple Service in the morning and it was a great time! It
was 50 degrees and lightly raining! It sounds like it was pretty cold, but it
felt so nice for the cold refreshing air to enter our lungs after breathing in
hot, humid air for the past 5 months! All of the missionaries were loving the
weather. We planted some shubbery (hahaha) and pulled some weeds! For the rest
of the day, we went out and tried to
contact some potential investigators.
Solid Day! At temple service, they give out some treats like cookies or
muffins. This time they brought out a cake for Elder Potter’s Birthday! The
funny thing is that the cake was a leftover cake from the local Publix (or
Harmons) and it said "happy birthday Nicholas!" Hahaha! To make it
even funnier it was a "SMURF" cake, with 4 little plastic smurfs on
top! It was great! I grabbed the plastic Smurfs and thought it would be funny
if I hid them around the apartment in funny places through out the week! Each
time one of us found one, we just started laughing so hard! I uploaded some
pictures below!
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| Brock and Elder Carpenter |
Wednesday- Wednesday definitely had its
ups and downs! We had Zone Conference from 7 in the morning until 4 in the
afternoon... I love meetings. No, it wasn't bad at all! It was full of great
insight from the leaders in the mission. I was able to take away a lot from
Zone Conference and am excited to put their teachings into play! Crazy story
about it: On our "Lunch Break" I met an Elder named Elder Johnson, he
arrived 3 weeks ago. We started talking and he played football for Alta High
School (Where I would have gone to school if I stayed up in Salt Lake.) I guess
he remembered me from playing little league football together!? Small World....
Also, One night when I was hanging out with my friends about a year ago, he
came down to visit his friend in St. George and we hung out together that night
too... Even Smaller world.... And he is going to play football at either Weber
or Dixie State! It was pretty crazy realizing all of this just after saying hi
to somebody I didn't know. Pretty cool story if you ask me! Also, I sat next to
an Elder who has been reading my sisters blog about her heart transplant!!! He
too went Alta High school, and found out about my sister. What a miracle filled
day! Before Zone Conference, we had to get our Flu shots! This was okay, but
the sleeve on my shirt couldn't go up to my shoulder! They ended up giving me
the shot in the middle of my tricep! haha Elder Potter was laughing so hard
watching them try to pull my sleeve up! He thought it was so funny!
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| Brock and Elder Johnson, the guy on the left, played little league football together in 3rd grade. I went to school with the dad of the missionary on the right, Elder Crismon. It's a small world! |
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| Brock thought it was pretty funny (awesome) that his shirt wouldn't go up over his "massive" bicep! |
Thursday- We met with our Investigators
with baptismal dates!! They were both really excited and are loving the Book of
Mormon. You guys, the Book of Mormon is so true. I wish I would have read more
from it before I was a missionary. It has helped me out so much since I've been
out here. There is nothing like the feeling when reading the Book of Mormon
with the desire to learn. True conversion takes place when somebody reads from
the Book. One thing I have learned from these investigators is always be
humble. When with met with this investigator this week his humility hit me. He
doesn't have a couch, tv, full pantry, etc... He has a bed to sleep on, running
water, some clothes, and enough to eat for the rest of the week. But what he
does have, is happiness and humility. His faith and love for our Savior Jesus
Christ is amazing. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to meet with him. I hope
one day I have as much humility as him.
Friday- After weekly planning, Elder
Potter and I felt the need to go through a list of the less-actives in the ward
and see if we could meet with them. We called all but about 15 names when we had
to return phone calls asking us if we could come over later that night.
The First member was so grateful for the call because his friend had just asked
about the church and asked a couple questions about The Plan of Salvation he
didn't know how to answer! We answered his questions, and then the member said
we can come over and meet his friend on thanksgiving! It was like the perfect
plan! The lesson Friday night has been one of the most spiritual lessons on
my mission. We met with an return missionary who hadn't been to church since
I've been in this area. (9 weeks) First we sat down and just got to know him a
little bit. We then said the opening prayer and immediately he began to cry. We
didn't say anything for the next couple of minutes as he was trying to compose
himself. Once he regained composure he had explained to us that he knew he
should have been going to church, reading the scriptures, and praying, but he
just didn't feel the need to. He felt as if Christ had abandoned him because of
it. He just felt so bad because he knew better. He knew he could have done
better and just felt so guilty. He explained to us that once he started to not
read the scriptures and pray each day, he started to fall down a path he never
wanted or thought he would go down. We then testified of the Atonement and how
our Father in Heaven will always love us. It was very spiritual for him and we
were able to see just how grateful he was for the Atonement.
I honestly love being a missionary.
There is no greater feeling than bringing hope to an individual who feels they
have no hope left.
Saturday- We had a lot of lessons
cancel. But that gave us the opportunity to contact a lot of funny people. We
had a hobo try to preach to us, we saw a car with wheels half the size of Elder
Potter, and had a guy answer the door in his whitey tighties! Missionaries that
are going home this transfer were able to go through the temple Saturday
morning while their companions went to the church across the street. I was
pretty bummed out. I love going to the Temple. In the Florida Orlando Mission
we have the opportunity to go in January and July, then once again when you go
home.
Sunday- The service Sunday morning was
fantastic. Our investigator was able to meet a lot of the members and started
to really begin to feel comfortable with the ward! A YSA ward is awesome
because you can always count on someone with the same interests as you!
A very solid week, full of miracles!
Again, it will be hard being away from home for the holidays, but I know this
work is definitely worth it. I think and pray for you guys daily, and hope
everyone is okay! Thanksgiving is Thursday! Grandma, you can now cook a smaller
turkey since I'm gone and you won't have to watch football anymore! Thanks to
everyone for the support! Have a great week!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Much Love,
Elder Doman
Moroni 7:47- But charity is the pure love of
Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last
day, it shall be well with him.
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| Brock and a member of the YSA that just got his mission call to Italy. |
In his email home this week he also
had some things to say:
"This week has been another good one. I
am finding myself getting into the same rhythm each morning, which has its
positives and negatives. I like it because I know I am doing the right thing
each and every morning, working out, eating a protein shake and an orange, then
studying. But I don't like it because it honestly gets kind of boring. I know
that i'm learning so much each and every study session and that alone makes it
so worth it."
"Mom, don't worry about how much is in my
Christmas package, or what is in there. It really is okay! I'm doing great! I'd
rather have money put on my card so I can mail some presents out to you! It
wouldn't be anything too big, but it would be fun to send home some gifts :)
let me know what you think!"
As for his Thanksgiving plans:
Our ward is having Thanksgiving tonight!
Our bishop is awesome and is cooking up a giant feast! I'm stoked! HAHA. On
Thursday, we honestly don't have one thing planned!! The bishop might invite us
over, but he isn't sure if he'll be on a cruise! We are planning on
"accidentally" knocking on a couple members doors :) it will be a
great experience! I'm honestly looking forward to it. The ward is having a turkey
bowl on Thursday! Unfortunately, missionaries are not able to participate!
lame! But it will still be fun to watch. Members will most likely invite us to
dinner there too!
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