Our intent of this blog is to share Brock's adventures in Orlando, Florida while he's on his LDS mission. Hopefully, by reading about how Brock is changing the lives of so many, and seeing Brock's own personal growth in the gospel, the people reading this blog will also be able to feel the spirit and be inspired to strengthen or develop their own testimonies of Christ and the LDS church.

Monday, August 31, 2015

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.

Monday, August 24, 2015

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

Monday, August 17, 2015

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