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| Elder Gubler from Hurricane |
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| This is the tree we made for Brock. We sorted the pictures and notes into 12 envelopes and told him to open one each day for the 12 days of Christmas. Well, to continue with the family tradition of not being able to wait for surprises, he opened them all the first day he got them and hung them on the tree!! So funny! |
I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I know for me it was nice to
see my friends and family again! It definitely gave me some more
determination and motivation to continue pushing forward. It was a
great holiday! We found out on Saturday that Elder Chidester and I
will be serving together again for another transfer! We are both
pretty stoked and are looking forward for these next 6 weeks in
Eustis!We had some pretty funny events happen this week
that Elder Chidester
and I were able to laugh at, and it seems like
it is beginning to
happen each week. Soooo here we go!
On Tuesday we tried to fit as many people in as possible because we
knew that the end of the week would be hectic and very busy for most
people. After having success teaching in the morning, we got a call
from a less active member in the Ward who referred her best friend and
neighbor to us, and asked if we could go stop by! It was quite the
blessing. Her name is Addie and she is has a lot of potential in the
gospel. She is going through A TON right now, and could use some
prayers sent her way. Addie is currently living with her ex husband so
that she is able to see her sons and daughters more often. It's not
the ideal situation by any means, but it shows how much she loves her
family. She also has Dialysis 3 times a week so this wares on her as
well. With all of that going on, Addie stays strong, and is a trooper.
She still has a strong desire to learn more, and is doing all she can
to be a role model for her family. We taught her the Restoration and
Plan of Salvation this week and she is just loving it. She asks all
the right questions and his pretty excited for this week too.
Tuesday afternoon, we decided to cook a Papa Murphy's take and bake
pizza in the oven a member gave us the night prior. Let's just say
after about 5 minutes in the oven, the pizza trans(caught on
fire)formed, and turned into some extra coal for Santa to pick up this
year. Luckily the back door to the patio is close to the kitchen so
when I grab the pizza that's on fire, along with the the oven rack I
just have to throw it out the door....Good times, good times.
Wednesday we had some more good laughs traveling out to Sumterville
for District Meeting again. Elder Chidester and I were doing our thing,
having some good conversation when we realized we missed the turn we
were supposed to take by a good 20 miles... We flipped the car around,
and headed back hoping to get the meeting on time. As we were driving
back, all of the sudden we noticed a brick in the middle of the road!
With cars both, on the side of me and behind me, the only thing we
could do was just take it and hold on tight. The tire went flat and we
were stuck in the middle of nowhere. Luckily we remembered a small
unmarked business not too far down the road which we could walk to.
Thank the high heavens that a good man named john was there to help us
change out our tire and put the spare on. 30 minutes later we arrived
in classic town of Sumtervile and were welcomed by the overwhelming
smell of cow manure. After the meeting we needed to find a place to
take our car in, but is also close enough for our spare tire to make
it. Luckily we made it to a shop nearby, and were on the road again.
Now it is 3 in the afternoon. After the good laughs we had that
morning, we remembered we needed to channel our inner Santa Clause,
and drive down to Clermont (a city) to drop of some Christmas packages
for some missionaries in the zone. This drive felt like we were
driving across Anthony Davis's unibrow... Let me tell ya, It was a
long drive! When we returned home, it was 6 o'clock and we finished up
the night with some good lessons with Sabrina and Artie! Both are
hoping to set baptismal dates this upcoming week.
Christmas Eve was fun. It started out with the classic weekly service
project in the jungle, cutting back weeds and tall trees with a
machete. Other than that, we had most of our lessons fall through. We
did a lot of finding and sharing the Christmas video the church put
out a few weeks ago called, "A Savior Is Born." It was fun to share
the spirit and see people get excited for Christmas! The dinner we had
Christmas Eve was awesome. The Ericksen family hooked us up and we ate
like kings. They had a few family friends over, and we all had a good
time. It was definitely a "fancy feast" as you can tell by the
pictures! Afterwards, we went to downtown Mt. Dora for a walk around
to see the Christmas lights with Nana and GM! It was a good way to end
the night!
Christmas Day. This was probably the best holiday on my mission so
far. After the wrapping paper hit the garbage can in the morning, we
decided to take a jog down to the church and have a Christmas morning
shoot around. We later ate breakfast with the first councilor in the
Bishopric and the rest of the Larsen family. We played some fun games
there like Wiffle ball and Spike Ball while enjoying ourselves on this
special Holiday. To "wrap" up the rest of the day, we ate meals with
three other members who all made sure we didn't go away hungry and
gave us a plate to go. One of my favorite dinners was with an
investigator named Artie. I think I've talked a little bit about Artie
before. He is the giant man with a heavy New York accent, and he cuts
down trees for a living. He was also married a few weeks ago! A funny
quote from the dinner goes like this,
Me - "So uhhh Artie Fartie, (that's his nickname we gave him) do you
like cooking?"
Artie - "uhhh yeah. It's one of my favorite things to do."
Me - "Oh sweet. Why?"
Artie - "because I like to eat.... Simple as that....Now eat your
baked Ziti.... and like it."
We were all cracking up and having a good time. It kind of felt like I
was home!"
Talking with my family and close friends on the night of Christmas was
perfect. The day couldn't have ended any better. It sure made me miss
each of them, but it was the right amount of inspiration to finish
this last 1/4th of my mission strong. I sure love each of them!!
The last thing to mention about this week is that there was an Apostle
in our Ward this weekend!!! The newly called Elder Rasband's son is in
the Eustis Bishopric. Elder Rasband was visiting his son for Christmas
and for his granddaughters baptism. He spoke in Sacrament about how
Jesus ministered to the individual. He gave the example of when Jesus
visited the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, and how he blessed them
individually one by one. I took this as something I can focus on and
work towards for this next part of my mission. He also spoke about
living for those who will come after us, or our prosperity, and
making the right decisions now which will influence generations to
come. The spirit meter was off the charts as I got my witness that he
truly has been called by God to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
I wanted to thank each of you again for the support and encouragement
you give week by week. I've been blessed with awesome family and
friends who continually motivate me. I love my mission!! Have a great
New Years!
Much Love,
- Elder Doman
3 Nephi 17:21 (speaking about Jesus)
21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare
record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and
blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
happen each week. Soooo here we go!
On Tuesday we tried to fit as many people in as possible because we
knew that the end of the week would be hectic and very busy for most
people. After having success teaching in the morning, we got a call
from a less active member in the Ward who referred her best friend and
neighbor to us, and asked if we could go stop by! It was quite the
blessing. Her name is Addie and she is has a lot of potential in the
gospel. She is going through A TON right now, and could use some
prayers sent her way. Addie is currently living with her ex husband so
that she is able to see her sons and daughters more often. It's not
the ideal situation by any means, but it shows how much she loves her
family. She also has Dialysis 3 times a week so this wares on her as
well. With all of that going on, Addie stays strong, and is a trooper.
She still has a strong desire to learn more, and is doing all she can
to be a role model for her family. We taught her the Restoration and
Plan of Salvation this week and she is just loving it. She asks all
the right questions and his pretty excited for this week too.
Tuesday afternoon, we decided to cook a Papa Murphy's take and bake
pizza in the oven a member gave us the night prior. Let's just say
after about 5 minutes in the oven, the pizza trans(caught on
fire)formed, and turned into some extra coal for Santa to pick up this
year. Luckily the back door to the patio is close to the kitchen so
when I grab the pizza that's on fire, along with the the oven rack I
just have to throw it out the door....Good times, good times.
Wednesday we had some more good laughs traveling out to Sumterville
for District Meeting again. Elder Chidester and I were doing our thing,
having some good conversation when we realized we missed the turn we
were supposed to take by a good 20 miles... We flipped the car around,
and headed back hoping to get the meeting on time. As we were driving
back, all of the sudden we noticed a brick in the middle of the road!
With cars both, on the side of me and behind me, the only thing we
could do was just take it and hold on tight. The tire went flat and we
were stuck in the middle of nowhere. Luckily we remembered a small
unmarked business not too far down the road which we could walk to.
Thank the high heavens that a good man named john was there to help us
change out our tire and put the spare on. 30 minutes later we arrived
in classic town of Sumtervile and were welcomed by the overwhelming
smell of cow manure. After the meeting we needed to find a place to
take our car in, but is also close enough for our spare tire to make
it. Luckily we made it to a shop nearby, and were on the road again.
Now it is 3 in the afternoon. After the good laughs we had that
morning, we remembered we needed to channel our inner Santa Clause,
and drive down to Clermont (a city) to drop of some Christmas packages
for some missionaries in the zone. This drive felt like we were
driving across Anthony Davis's unibrow... Let me tell ya, It was a
long drive! When we returned home, it was 6 o'clock and we finished up
the night with some good lessons with Sabrina and Artie! Both are
hoping to set baptismal dates this upcoming week.
Christmas Eve was fun. It started out with the classic weekly service
project in the jungle, cutting back weeds and tall trees with a
machete. Other than that, we had most of our lessons fall through. We
did a lot of finding and sharing the Christmas video the church put
out a few weeks ago called, "A Savior Is Born." It was fun to share
the spirit and see people get excited for Christmas! The dinner we had
Christmas Eve was awesome. The Ericksen family hooked us up and we ate
like kings. They had a few family friends over, and we all had a good
time. It was definitely a "fancy feast" as you can tell by the
pictures! Afterwards, we went to downtown Mt. Dora for a walk around
to see the Christmas lights with Nana and GM! It was a good way to end
the night!
Christmas Day. This was probably the best holiday on my mission so
far. After the wrapping paper hit the garbage can in the morning, we
decided to take a jog down to the church and have a Christmas morning
shoot around. We later ate breakfast with the first councilor in the
Bishopric and the rest of the Larsen family. We played some fun games
there like Wiffle ball and Spike Ball while enjoying ourselves on this
special Holiday. To "wrap" up the rest of the day, we ate meals with
three other members who all made sure we didn't go away hungry and
gave us a plate to go. One of my favorite dinners was with an
investigator named Artie. I think I've talked a little bit about Artie
before. He is the giant man with a heavy New York accent, and he cuts
down trees for a living. He was also married a few weeks ago! A funny
quote from the dinner goes like this,
Me - "So uhhh Artie Fartie, (that's his nickname we gave him) do you
like cooking?"
Artie - "uhhh yeah. It's one of my favorite things to do."
Me - "Oh sweet. Why?"
Artie - "because I like to eat.... Simple as that....Now eat your
baked Ziti.... and like it."
We were all cracking up and having a good time. It kind of felt like I
was home!"
Talking with my family and close friends on the night of Christmas was
perfect. The day couldn't have ended any better. It sure made me miss
each of them, but it was the right amount of inspiration to finish
this last 1/4th of my mission strong. I sure love each of them!!
The last thing to mention about this week is that there was an Apostle
in our Ward this weekend!!! The newly called Elder Rasband's son is in
the Eustis Bishopric. Elder Rasband was visiting his son for Christmas
and for his granddaughters baptism. He spoke in Sacrament about how
Jesus ministered to the individual. He gave the example of when Jesus
visited the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, and how he blessed them
individually one by one. I took this as something I can focus on and
work towards for this next part of my mission. He also spoke about
living for those who will come after us, or our prosperity, and
making the right decisions now which will influence generations to
come. The spirit meter was off the charts as I got my witness that he
truly has been called by God to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
I wanted to thank each of you again for the support and encouragement
you give week by week. I've been blessed with awesome family and
friends who continually motivate me. I love my mission!! Have a great
New Years!
Much Love,
- Elder Doman
3 Nephi 17:21 (speaking about Jesus)
21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare
record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and
blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
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