Serving with Elder Scott in Daytona......transfer #1

Friends and Family!

It's been an awesome start to another Transfer in the Holy Land of

Daytona Beach!

There were a lot of successes this week, which I can't wait to share

with all of ya!

My new companion is Elder Scott! Elder Scott and I have served around

each other for just about all of my mission. He was my 2nd District

Leader in Palm Bay, he was my Zone Leader when I was serving in Winter Park, and now we are companions. We've stayed in touch throughout the

year, and we are now stoked to serve together. He plays soccer at BYU,

so... we are both determined to get into better shape. He has 3

transfers left on his mission, so we are really going to finish

strong! It's possible I'll be with him for the rest of his mission (18

weeks) then stay in Daytona for another 6 weeks. Well, that's a lot of

talk about the future, so let's get into this exciting week!

Our investigators made a big progression this week, which was awesome

to see. Leona agreed to set a baptismal date for the 16th of August,

and was stoked. She was a little hesitant to set a date earlier in the

week, but after the right members coming out to teach lessons with us, and after her hearing us testify of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it seemed to be the right timing for her. We were also able to invite her oldest daughter, Shannon, into the lesson. We finished by giving her a copy of the Book of Mormon and she promised to read it. We had another lesson yesterday with her and she had finished all of 1st Nephi! For the first 10 or so minutes of the lesson, it was her sharing complex details of what she learned from her reading! Golden investigator!

Another investigator, Serena, also set a baptismal date for the beginning of August! It's been so cool to see how she has really opened up to us as the spirit has been working with her. She is living with her aunt which is an

investigator, and her uncle that is less active. The thing that has

made a difference with her is the fundamentals of the Gospel. When she

first moved in, she didn't know much about God, and had never prayed!

She just committed to be baptized!! What a change the Gospel can do

for people!

Elder Scott and I are really working hard with the Zone to serve them.

We've come up with a lot of transfer goals, and are seeing success

throughout the zone as we've set these goals!

 

Sky (Green shirt) and his uncle DJ who went to Baptisms for the Dead last week!

I've had a lot of fun previously serving in the Deland Zone, and can't

wait for this upcoming transfer with Elder Scott! Thanks so much for

all of the support I'm receiving! Time is moving by so quickly, and

it's both a good and bad thing. Have a great week ya'll!

 

The beautiful Daytona Beach!!

Elder Doman

Transfers in "Deland" of promise and Temple Day!

What a week here in Daytona! It was Elder Harman's last week, and we

wanted to make sure to finish it out strong! We were pretty busy most

of the week and had a lot of good memories when getting the work done.

Monday-

We met with a former investigator named Mrs. Jackson. We started

talking to her and she was accepting almost all of the message. After

further conversation, Elder Harman and I both felt impressed to extend

the baptismal invitation and set a baptismal date. She responded,

"Well, here's the thing young boys. I love the Mormon Church, the

family feel, and the Book of Mormon. The only thing holding me back

right now are those boring, monotone hymns of ya'lls. I feel like I’m

about to fall asleep in the songs!! Why don't we have like a band or

something?! Get some drums up in there!" Yeah, Elder Harman and I

started busting up laughing. Mrs. Jackson came from a Southern Baptist

background and definitely likes that style of hymns at church!

hopefully this week we are able to address her concern!

Tuesday-

We did more finding and had we were blessed to have a media referral

come first thing in the morning. We went to visit Phil and he lived in

a humble apartment. As we started talking with him, he said he had a

pipeline in Nigeria which would make him over 15 million dollars in 3

years. He was kind of a crazy guy, but he was down to hear the gospel!

Wednesday-

We had a great district meeting where Elder Harman bore his

departing testimony. After district meeting, "Grandpa" took all of the

missionaries out to lunch and it was a blast! We then finished up the

day by meeting with our investigators and saying some goodbyes.

Thursday-

We had our ward summer party! They brought in some Texas Roadhouse

steaks and some other good, home-cookin bar-b-que! We had some

investigators and less-actives attend which was great. They all felt

really loved from the Ward! Our recent convert Jackie started crying

afterwards and we weren't sure why. She said that her whole family has

passed on and she's been alone for the past 15 years  She hasn't felt that loved and part of a family since.

Friday-

Here in the Florida, Orlando Mission when missionaries are about to go

home, they are able to attend the Temple with President Berry one last

time before heading home. Unfortunately, the companion staying in the

mission isn't able to go through. I was able to do some good studies

with the other missionaries whose companions are going home. It was

fun to go to lunch with some of those missionaries going home. Friday

night was the weekly basketball with the Elders Quorum. I love this

ward!

Saturday-

Our recent convert Sky finished up 4 of his family names to take the

to the temple to do baptisms for the dead! We had a great hour and a half

drive with the second counselor In the ward take us down. We as missionaries are unable to participate with baptisms but we can help with confirmations. We were stoked to help out! We ended up getting Scandinavian names... I'll just say it was a struggle trying to pronounce them correctly, and it was even a bigger struggle trying not to laugh hearing Elder Harman trying! It was an experience I'll never forget. The spirit in the Temple is unreal. I've only been able to do baptisms for the dead once before my mission, and it was great. This experience was pretty special, and it was something I'll always remember.

Sunday-

Elder Harman said his Goodbyes to the ward and our investigators!

Sunday evening we had a less active in the ward calling us crying. She

told us her brother had committed suicide Saturday night, and needed

someone to talk to her and her family. Again, this was a high pressure

situation and it was pretty intense. We were both pretty nervous

heading into the home, but once we prayed for comfort and confidence,

we were confident and collected. We were unsure what to say as she was

really struggling holding it together when we started bearing

testimony of the Plan of Salvation and specifically the Spirit World.

She told herself over and over about the Spirit World, but just needed

someone else to bear testimony of it. We felt like we were able to

help lift her burdens even if it was a little bit. She called us

earlier today and said that we invited the spirit into the home, and

that's exactly what she needed. We weren't sure how much of an impact

we specifically made, but we know we helped out the most we could. The

Spirit is real. The church is true!

Mosiah  4:9

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things,

both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all

power, both in heaven and in earth

-Elder Doman

9 plus hours helping a lady move and first time conducting a zone meeting!

Brock told me that they got a treadmill from a recent convert to the church, he was so excited!!!

Friends and family,

It was a crazy week here in Daytona! There were hundreds of people in

down to celebrate the holiday, and the Coke 400 was going on at the

Daytona Speedway. It was an American filled weekend Ya'll!

Tuesday was a day to remember... We woke up Tuesday and did our

studies, and everything was normal until we got a call from some of

the elders serving in Orlando. The phone call went like this...

"Hey Elder Doman and Elder Harman, did you get the call about that

person who needed help moving today?"

"No, we have no idea what you are talking about."

"Well, there is an older woman moving into your area who needs help

moving in today. It shouldn't take too long, but you should try to get

members to help. We told her you'd be there at 12."

"...Alrighty then!"

When we arrive to her home there was a 26 ft U-Haul packed to the top

full of boxes, and safes. When we met her, there was no way we could

leave. We ended up being there until 9 o'clock! It felt good to do

some service, and to work my sweat glands!

Wednesday we woke up and finished off the 12 ft trailer we didn't have

time to finish up Tuesday. Later Wednesday afternoon, we ran into a

guy that looked as if he came straight out of the Orlando Magic

practice. He was probably 6"10 and was athletic as can be. We invited

him out to the infamous Daytona Elders Quorum basketball games

Thursday nights. He was pumped. He couldn't wait, but he also agreed

to learn more about God and Jesus Christ! Deyonte was a way cool guy!

Thursday we had a ZTM with the Zone! I was still a little nervous to

be conducting a meeting with the whole Zone, but it was a good way to

get out of my comfort zone and  have a good time. I'm learning how to

be myself, but still have responsibilities. After the meeting, we met with our investigator Sirena, and she accepted the baptismal invite. She was way excited! She is living with a less active member of the church, and another investigator. She has never believed in God until a few weeks ago, but has always felt like

there was more to life than just our Earth life. When we went over the

Plan of Salvation she said she had never felt something so good in her

life, and wants this feeling to always be with her. We are excited for

her to take this journey!  Thursday night we had 3 investigators come and of course Deyonte came and put everyone to shame. He was happy coming and liked the feeling in the church!

We have been trying to go track down all of the converts that have

been baptized in this ward over the last 2 years. We found one named

Ivet, or "Abuela" who has been trying to find the missionaries, but

got a new phone and didn't have our number. She has been less active

for about 4 months now, and just didn't feel needed in the church. It

was great to see the Lord lead us to her at the perfect time in order

to reach out and help her needs. We finished up our day by doing

Weekly Planning and continuing to find these converts!

The Fourth of July was spent by visiting families in the ward who

wanted us to come to their cookout! I probably gained 5 pounds alone

from all the southern bar b que!

Sunday was great! We had 4 investigators come to church who all loved

the spirit from fast and testimony Meeting.

Sorry for having to make this a shorter email, we are running out of

time today! It's amazing how quickly this transfer has gone by. This

week will be Week 6 of the transfer, and I'll be getting a new

companion next Tuesday! Again, sorry for the shorter email, but know

that I'm grateful for all of you and I know this church is true. I

know it because of the feeling I have when I do the little things like

reading the scriptures, coming to church and praying! Thanks for all

you do!

With Love,

Elder Doman