New companion, Elder Crismon-I couldn't be happier!

I was worried about Brock this week because Hurricane Erika was headed to Florida.  I was very thankful when I got this picture from Brock: 

and then this text from “Grandpa” on Saturday, it definitely eased my mind!

In Brock’s email to me today he told me had a few problems with his shoes!  Dang it, it’s only been since Christmas.  It’s time like this when I am so thankful that he’s in the states.  I just transferred money to his account and he was able to go shopping and buy shoes today!

It's obvious from his letter that Brock is thrilled with his new companion!  I went to high school with his dad, crazy huh?  It's going to be another sweet 6 weeks in Daytona!

"Elder Doman serving in Daytona Beach, your new companion is Elder

Crismon" was the word on Tuesday Morning. I'm so excited to have at

least 6 weeks with serving here with Elder Crismon. I've known elder

Crismon before in the mission and talked with him a lot. We have a lot

in common and are getting along really well. We have a lot of

connections that go back prior to the mission and we are great

friends! We've stayed up talking about life in general until about 1

am every night of the week. It's safe to say we are looking forward to

this transfer.

This week we have met with our investigator named Brandi a couple of

times this week, and she's doing great! She moved in from Oregon a few

weeks ago and referred herself online! She now has a baptismal date

and is loving the Book of Mormon. She has a pretty crazy background

and is witnessing the change taking place in her life. It's so cool to

see the gospel change individuals, and their family around them.

My recent Leona Jackson is doing fantastic! She is one of the funniest

people I know!

We received a text from her this morning and she told us that she's

going to be the best missionary the world has ever known. She's so

ready for a calling in the church. She met with the Bishop this week

and requested to be the Gospel Principles teacher! She's such a solid

Recent Convert!

We had a crazy weekend here in the DeLand Zone! We were privileged to

have Elder Tony Parker an Area 70 come and preside at our Stake

Conference. It was insane. He basically told every member they need to

do a better job of member missionary work. He threw down on the

members. He was a convert to the church and I guess we can say he had

some "soul power" when he talked. Anyways, Saturday night we had 4

companions in the zone that didn't report "in and safe" before 10:30.

After 25 minutes of trying to reach the companionships, Elder Crismon

and I had to go on a search and rescue mission to go check up after

them. It was memory as elder Crismon and I driving through the pouring

rain at 11 pm. It ends up that their cell phone connection was just

bad because of the weather, and they too were trying to call or send a

message. Luckily, Hurricane Erika isn't hitting us today and we made

it out safe and sound.

We are working a lot with the Zone trying to help them have an

internal change. When we set Zone Goals for key indicators some weeks,

the zone does great and excels. When we are not on them and setting a

high bar for them, they fall right back into complacency. We are

hoping to help the missionaries have this change this transfer. I'm

having lot of fun, and learning a lot about myself. I can see the

continual change happening within myself. Thank you all for the

support I'm receiving! I love and miss ya. Keep the faith!

Godspeed,

-Elder Doman

Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Sad Goodbye to Elder Scott, but at least 6 more weeks in Daytona!!

Friends and Family, 6 MORE WEEKS IN DAYTONA BEACH! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to serve for another Transfer here in the Holy Land of Daytona Beach. Elder Scott is unfortunately leaving though. We were so shocked when we got the transfer email, and we're both pretty upset. But, it is what it is! This week was a blast. So last week, Elder Scott and I set some specific Zone Goals that had to do with the number of new investigators found through out the zone, and the number of lessons with a member present. The incentive was that if they achieved their goals, they could throw pies at our faces at their next District Meeting. The Zone was pumped and excited to out this into play. It ends up that the DeLand Zone reached their goals with the exact number needed for each category! So to finish up this at weeks District Meetings through out the Zone, Elder Scott and I got pied! (See pictures below) This week we were able to go a Homeless shelter and help wipe up the tables after they ate their food. So things were going good and I wasn't sure what to expect. We helped prepare their food before they were able to come in and eat some lunch. The first few people came in and everything was going great. I guess to sum up the experience, here is a quote from an older man to a women walking past him..."If you kick my chair again, I'll stab you with this fork." yeah, there were a lot of life lessons I learned that day from the homeless in Daytona Beach, FL. We had a lot of miracles seen this week, and had a good time doing it! We spent a lot time with Leona and Serena as they both are preparing to go to the Temple for Baptisms for the dead. It was pretty cool to see how they both are progressing in the Gospel, and just loving their life right now. It's awesome to be a missionary and see these changes happening in the lives of others. The Lawhorn family of 15 is doing great! They were out of town for the last half of the week, so we were only able to see them a couple of times. Earlier this morning our Ward Mission Leader took us to the Daytona International Speedway so we could go on a tour! We thought it would be even more  fun to invite the other Elders close to us for them to attend as well. From the pictures below, you can see some of the cool sights here in Daytona and more about the racetrack. I've never been a Nascar fan, and don't think I ever will be, but it was still cool to go into the raceway and see how it all works. Everything is going well here in Daytona Beach and I'm excited to see how things this upcoming week at Transfers. Tomorrow I'll have a new companion, and I'm pretty nervous. I think the stress of transfers will never go away, but they always go okay. Thanks again for all of the support. I honestly couldn't do it without you all. Have a great week! I love and miss you all. -Elder Doman

Leona Jackson's Baptism!!!

Friends and Family,

It was one crazy week here in Daytona! We were excited to see the work

progress in Daytona Beach and throughout the DeLand Zone! Elder Scott

and I were pumped to see one our all time favorite investigators,

Leona Jackson, enter into the waters of a baptism Sunday the 16th!

So this week was a little bit all over the place with some random

events happening. To start, Monday evening a light came on in our car

and we figured out we were in need of an oil change. We set an

appointment for early Tuesday morning, so we wouldn't have this be too

big of a burden and take some precious time out of this week. Well the

car ended up being at Firestone until late afternoon and they weren't

able to fix the problem. They told us to take the car to the

dealership because Chevy is the only company that has the rights to

fix it. Elder Scott and I were pretty frustrated, and we realized very

quickly that car mechanics aren't our forte. We didn't know what was

even wrong with the car when we arrived to the Chevy Dealership. When

we were asked if we could be helped, Elder Scott replied, "We need our

car fixed." The lady stared at us blankly not knowing what to say.

I then said, "there is a light on, and it's like... Not working. It

runs fine, but Firestone said it needs to be fixed." It ended up

needing to go back Wednesday morning to have further work done.

Everything was finished up late Wednesday afternoon, as we were able

to go out proselyting.

We continually have laughed at this situation throughout the week, and

we hope and pray that we don't run into any more car problems.

The Lawhorn family of 15 is doing great! It's been tough to have a

decent teaching environment with 11 little munchkins running around

the place, but that's what makes it fun. Their kids are a riot. Elder

Scott and I laugh every time we go over there. As we bore testimony

and taught the Plan of Salvation, it was one of the greatest lessons

I've had. The mother, Lorie was feeling the Spirit so much in that

lesson. She said she believes it's true, and knows this will bring her

family closer together. They haven't been able to read to much of the

Book of Mormon, and couldn't come to church, but as we fast and pray

for them this upcoming week, we are hoping to see them recognize even

more blessings Heavenly Father is giving them which should hopefully

motivate them to come out to church.

Serena is doing great! We reviewed the Restoration with her, and she

bore powerful testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We are hoping to start teaching more of those that live the same home. A

couple of them were able to attend the baptism and we are slowly

trying to get them more involved!

Throughout the transfer, Elder Scott and I have been trying to find

some less-active members in the ward. A few weeks ago, we were able to

give a blessing in the hospital to a man named Billy. One night he had

a heart attack and needed an emergency surgery. Billy hadn't attended

church in over 12 years, and took that as a sign from God to get back

on the same page with him. Billy came to church this week, and has

committed to read the Book of Mormon over again. What a miracle.

Leona Jackson. Where to even begin! There is a picture of Leona at the

bottom of this email so you are able to see who she is. Elder Scott

and I are first amazed at Leona's faith. She has attended her previous

church for 30 years and now, because she knows that God has told her

she needed to change and to get out over her comfort zone. She told us

that our church makes her feel a little uncomfortable because of her

strong roots of a Southern Baptist, and because she is a minority,

but... She knows this is where God wants her, and can't deny it. She

is the perfect example of Fear of God vs. Fear of Man.

Man, I can't even begin to say how much I've learned on my mission. It

seems like once a week there is a moment where I look back and think

about progression. Knowing I still have quite a while on my mission to

continually change is a blessing. It's hard, and definitely

challenging, but I wouldn't change this experience for the world. It's

now week 6 of the transfer and are finishing up the transfer strong.

I'm hoping to stay here in Daytona Beach with Elder Scott, but who

knows what will happen. For now, I'll continue to work hard and have a

good time on my mission. Thanks SO much for all the support and

motivation I'm getting from you all back home. You're the best!

With Love,

-Elder Doman